STEPHEN 


A  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS 


By 

FLORENCE  MORSE  KINGSLEY 
Author  of  Titus 


Phikdelphia 
HENRY  ALTEMUS 


COPYRIGHTED,  1896,  BY  FLORENCE  M.  KINGSLEY. 


HENRY  ALTEMUS,  MANUFACTURER, 
PHILADELPHIA. 


TO  MY  HUSBAND 


2229178 


PREFACE. 


THERE  are  those  who  have  asked  me  to 
write  this  book.  There  may  be  others  who 
shall  question  me  because  I  have  written  it. 
"  Assuredly,"  these  will  cry  out,  "  it  is  justly  for- 
bidden to  ascribe  words  and  deeds  of  one's  own 
devising  to  them  which  have  been  set  forever 
apart  in  the  pages  of  the  Book  of  books.  The  pen 
of  inspiration  has  written  of  Stephen  all  that  God 
wills  us  to  know  of  him,  therefore  let  us  be 
content." 

It  is  true  that  the  story  of  Stephen  is  little 
known  ;  scarcely  for  a  single  day  does  the  light 
shine  clearly  upon  him,  and  that  day  the  last  of  his 
mortal  life.  A  tale  is  told  of  ancient  alchemists, 
how  that  they  possessed  the  power  of  resurrecting 
from  the  ashes  of  a  perished  flower  a  dim  ghost  of 
the  flower  itself.  In  like  manner,  may  not  one 
gather  the  fragrant  dust  of  this  vanished  life  from 

(3) 


4  PREFACE. 

out  the  writings  and  legends  of  past  ages,  and 
from  it  build  anew  some  faint  image  of  its  for- 
gotten beauty  ? 

Surely  in  these  days,  when  the  imagination  hur- 
ries to  and  fro  on  the  earth,  delving  amid  all  that 
is  low  and  evil  and  noisome  for  some  new  panacea 
wherewith  to  deaden,  if  only  for  a  moment,  the 
feverish  pain  in  the  hearts  of  men,  it  were  a 
good  thing  to  lift  up  the  eyes  of  the  soul  to  the 
contemplation  of  those  days  when  the  memory  of 
the  living  Jesus  was  yet  fresh  in  the  hearts  of  His 
followers ;  when  His  voice  still  echoed  in  their 
ears ;  when  the  glory  of  the  cloud  which  had  re- 
ceived Him  out  of  their  sight  lingered  with  trans- 
figuring splendor  on  all  the  commonplace  happen- 
ings of  their  daily  lives ;  when  the  words,  "  Lo,  I 
am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end,"  meant  a 
living  presence  all  comforting,  all  powerful. 

We  are  wont  to  look  longingly  back  through  the 
dark  mists  of  the  ages  and  sigh,  "  Oh,  that  I  had 
known  Him  as  they  knew  Him !  But  in  these 
hard,  grey  days  there  is  no  glory  that  shines,  no 
voice  that  speaks,  no  ecstatic  vision  of  the  Son  of 
Man  standing  at  the  right  hand  of  power." 

Yet  had  we  lived  in  those  days  the  life  which 
many  of  us  live  to-day,  going  to  church  and  to 
prayer  because  such  attendance  is  a  Christian  duty ; 
giving  of  our  abundance  to  the  poor  because  our 


PREFACE.  5 

neighbors  will  marvel  if  we  withhold ;  and  for  the 
rest,  living  as  those  before  the  flood,  and  since 
also — eating  and  drinking,  and  making  such  poor 
merriment  as  we  are  able  in  a  life  which  was  given 
us  for  another  purpose — had  we  lived  thus  in  those 
far-off  days,  would  the  Pentecostal  flames  have 
descended  upon  us?  Could  the  crucified  One 
have  said  unto  us,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway, 
even  unto  the  end  ? "  Would  we  not  rather  have 
cried  out  in  terror  and  fled  away  from  the  light  of 
those  sad  eyes  into  darkness,  even  as  did  Peter 
after  that  he  had  denied  with  curses. 

There  is  an  Apostolic  Church  in  the  world 
to-day.  To-day  Christ  is  on  earth  and  walks  with 
men.  To-day  the  Spirit  works  mightily  as  of  old  ; 
the  blind  see,  the  deaf  hear,  and  the  dead  are 
raised  up.  But  it  is  not  alone  in  splendid  temple, 
nor  amid  the  solemn  pomp  of  churchly  magni- 
ficence that  these  things  are  being  accomplished, 
but  in  the  humble  upper  rooms  where  the  good 
soldiers  of  the  Salvation  Army,  and  the  workers 
in  Rescue  Missions,  labor  unceasingly  for  them 
that  are  lost. 

In  these  places,  and  in  the  silence  of  repentant 
hearts  also,  one  may  yet  touch  the  borders  of  that 
seamless  robe ;  and  lo,  every  one  that  touches  is 
made  whole. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Preface     3 

CHAPTER 

I.  THE  BLIND  SINGER 9 

II.  GOOD  TIDINGS  OUT  OF  THE  DESERT  ....  17 

III.  AT  THE  PALACE  OF  THE  HIGH  PRIEST  .   .   .  25 

IV.  IN  PLACE  OF  JUDAS 32 

V.  IN  THE  ABODE  OF  KINGS 39 

VI.  THE  LORD  OF  THE  SOUTH-LAND 48 

VII.  THE  PHARISEE  FROM  TARSUS      56 

VIII.  A  BELIEVER  IN  THE  NAZARENE 67 

IX.  IN  THE  DESERT  ENCAMPMENT 76 

X.  THE  WHITE  DROMEDARY 85 

XI.  AT  THE  GATE  BEAUTIFUL     97 

XII.  IN  THE  COUNCIL  CHAMBER 106 

XIII.  AT  THE  FEET  OF  THE  APOSTLES 116 

XIV.  A  CUP  OF  COLD  WATER 128 

XV.  IN  PURSUIT  OF  THE  FUGITIVES 139 

XVI.  A  ROLL  OF  PARCHMENT 150 

XVII.  IN  THE  PRISON  HOUSE       160 

XVIII.  "WHOSE  WE  ARE  AND  WHOM  WE  SERVE"  169 

XIX.  IN  THE  SHADOW  OF  THE  WALL 181 

(7) 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER 


PAGE 

XX.  WITHOUT  THE  JAFFA  GATE 195 

XXI.  "NOT  A  SPARROW  FALLETH" 209 

XXII.  BY  THE  THORNY  WAYS  OF  His  SIN  .   ...  218 

XXIII.  IN  THE  SYNAGOGUE  OF  THE  NAZARENES    .  227 

XXIV.  THE  WARNING 234 

XXV.  THE  WRATH  OF  MAN 245 

XXVI.  UNTIL  THE  DAY  BREAK 257 

XXVII.  IN  THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW 265 

XXVIII.  THE  LIFTED  VEIL 276 

XXIX.  THE  WATCHFUL  LOVE 285 

XXX.  A  FLASK  OF  CRYSTAL 293 

XXXI.  A  SCARLET  THREAD 301 

XXXII.  BEN  HESED  IN  JERUSALEM 3" 

XXXIII.  THE  MERCY  OF  ISRAEL     320 

XXXIV.  AT  THE  THIRD  HOUR 331 

XXXV.  ON  THE  ROAD  TO  DAMASCUS 343 

XXXVI.  THE  AMULET 358 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE    BLIND    SINGER. 

BOUNTEOUS  Nile!  Father  of  all  living !  Gar- 
landed with  lotus  blooms,  rosy  as  Horus  ! " 

As  these  words  rang  out  over  the  rocky  hillside 
in  a  clear  sweet  voice,  two  men  who  were  climb- 
ing the  steep  declivity  paused  a  moment  and 
looked  at  each  other. 

"  That  is  the  voice,"  said  one  of  them  in  a  tone 
of  deep  satisfaction.  "A  voice  of  gold  truly,  if  only 
breathed  forth  into  royal  ears." 

"  There  are  two  of  them,"  said  his  companion, 
wiping  his  hot  face.  "  The  other  is  a  boy,  a  water- 
carrier." 

"  Good  !  He  also  will  bring  a  fair  price.  Valu- 
able property  both,  and  going  to  waste  like  water 
spilled  in  the  desert.  Why  buy  slaves  for  gold, 
when  they  grow  wild  in  the  desert?"  And  the 
speaker  laughed  under  his  breath. 

(9) 


io  STEPHEN 

"  Thou  art  a  favorite  of  the  gods,"  said  the  other 
with  a  venomous  gleam  in  his  narrow  black  eyes. 
"  In  thy  heaven-bestowed  wisdom  forget  not  that  it 
was  I  who  came  upon  the  two  nesting  in  a  corner 
of  yonder  old  tomb  like  a  pair  of  swallows." 

"Thou  shalt  have  the  boy." 

"  And  who  gave  thee  leave  to  say,  friend  ? " 

"  Canst  thou  sell  them  then  ?  Is  it  of  thee  that 
the  princess  will  buy  slaves  ?  Half  the  price  of  the 
two  shall  be  thine ;  if  that  pleaseth  thee  not,  why 
then " 

"  Look  at  me !    I  am  thy  sister  that  loveth  thee, 
Do  not  stay  far  from  me,  heavenly  one ! 
Come  to  thine  abode  with  haste,  with  haste 
I  see  thee  no  more.     I  see  thee  no  more — " 

trilled  the  unseen  singer. 

"Ha!  The  song  of  Isis !  The  little  one  is  re- 
ligious," continued  the  speaker,  who  had  stopped 
in  the  midst  of  his  bargaining.  "  Come !  What 
sayest  thou  ? "  he  added  persuasively.  "  Half  the 
price — and  it  will  be  a  good  one — no  one  can  dc 
better  in  such  a  matter  than " 

"No  one  better  than  Besa,"  interrupted  the 
other  rudely.  "  Be  it  so ;  but  lie  to  me  about  the 
price  and  thou  shalt  regret  it." 

The  two  had  reached  the  top  of  the  hill  by  this 
time. 


THE  BLIND  SINGER.  11 

"  Hist !     Do  not  let  her  see  thee." 

"  Nay,  rather,  do  not  let  her  hear  thee ;  she  is 
blind." 

"Blind?" 

"  Ay !  Stone  blind  ;  but  what  matters  it  when 
she  carries  a  singing  bird  in  her  throat.  Do  they 
not  blind  the  nightingale  ? " 

Both  men  now  advanced  cautiously,  their  sandaled 
feet  making  little  sound  on  the  shelf-like  plateau 
upon  which  yawned  several  recesses  cut  deep  into 
the  solid  rock.  In  the  door  of  one  of  these  recesses 
sat,  or  rather  crouched,  the  figure  of  a  young  girl. 
Her  blue-black  hair,  gathered  away  from  her  fore- 
head and  plaited  in  several  thick  braids,  revealed 
a  thin  face,  delicately  featured,  the  smooth  brown 
cheeks  faintly  flushed  with  a  warmth,  which  in  the 
drooping  mouth  deepened  to  scarlet.  Her  eyes 
were  large  and  black,  but  curiously  expressionless, 
like  the  eyes  of  the  great  god  Ptah  in  the  temple 
below.  For  the  rest,  she  was  dressed  in  the  shape- 
less blue  linen  robe  of  an  Egyptian  peasant  woman, 
about  her  neck  hung  a  string  of  shining  coins,  and 
upon  the  slender  ankles  tinkled  hoops  of  wrought 
silver. 

At  the  sound  of  the  stealthy  feet  upon  the  rock, 
the  blind  girl  bent  her  head  anxiously. 

"  Is  it  you,  Seth  ? "  she  said  doubtfully. 

"  Nay,  little  one,"  said  one  of  the  men,  advanc- 


12  STEPHEN 

ing  boldly,  "  it  is  only  a  wayfarer  who  heard  a  god- 
dess chanting  to  herself  in  a  nook  of  the  mountain. 
Didst  thou  also  hear  it  ? " 

The  girl  shrank  back  into  the  narrow  recess, 
upon  whose  rocky  walls  was  pictured  gaudily  the 
long-since-ended  career  of  its  former  occupant. 
She  made  no  reply. 

"This  dismal  spirit-haunted  tomb  is  no  place  for 
thee,"  continued  the  speaker  in  honeyed  tones, 
"  for  it  is  thou  and  no  other  who  hast  the  voice  of 
Isis  herself.  Thou  shouldst  sing  in  the  abode  of 
princes,  and  be  crowned  with  perfumed  garlands, 
and  all  this  shall  shortly  happen  if  thou  wilt  but 
come  with  me.  Listen ! "  he  added  imperatively 
in  the  Greek  tongue,  addressing  his  companion. 
"  I  will  take  the  girl  with  me,  her  pretty  face  adds 
to  her  value  by  half,  the  blindness  is  no  matter. 
But  do  thou  wait  for  the  boy  and  bring  him  to  the 
city,  to  the  place  whereof  thou  knowest.  To-mor- 
row they  shall  both  be  sold." 

He  was  standing  as  he  spoke  perilously  near 
the  edge  of  the  rocky  declivity  up  which  he  had 
just  clambered,  his  black  snaky  eyes  fixed  upon 
the  maiden,  his  hand  already  extended  to  grasp 
her,  when  with  the  lithe  swiftness  of  a  tigress  she 
sprang  to  her  feet,  and  with  a  sudden  powerful 
push  of  her  strong  young  arms  sent  the  unfortunate 
man  flying  backward  over  the  verge.  Then  with  a 


THP:  BUND  SINGER.  13 

loud  scream  she  turned,  and,  eluding  the  out- 
stretched arms  of  the  other,  fled  away  and  disap- 
peared in  some  hidden  nook  among  the  tombs. 
The  man  who  remained  behind  stared  after  her  a 
moment  in  silence,  then  he  broke  into  a  short 
sneering  laugh. 

"  By  the  seven  great  gods !  It  appears  that  a 
nightingale  is  not  easy  to  cage.  And  what  then 
has  become  of  our  bargaining  Besa  ?  By  Anubis ! 
I  care  not  if  he  be  dead." 

Peering  over  the  edge  of  the  precipice  he  pres- 
ently descried  a  motionless  mass  of  dingy  red 
drapery,  lodged  against  the  side  of  a  great  boulder, 
and  thither,  grumbling  morosely  to  himself,  he 
slowly  and  deliberately  made  his  way. 

In  the  meantime  the  young  girl  was  cowering 
breathless  in  a  narrow  crevice  of  the  rocks ;  she 
listened  intensely,  her  hands  upon  her  heart,  as 
though  she  feared  that  its  loud  beating  might 
betray  her  hiding-place.  But  after  a  few  moments 
the  silence  reassured  her  and  she  began  to  weep 
and  moan  softly  to  herself. 

"  O  Isis,  tender-hearted  one,  what  is  it  that  hath 
befallen  me  ?  O  God  of  the  Sun  in  thy  shining 
chariot !  why  dost  thou  not  smite  such  wicked- 
ness ?  What  then  if  I  have  killed  him.  Nay,  I 
care  not !  It  is  just." 


14  STEPHEN 

"  Anat !  Anat ! "  shouted  a  voice.  "  Where  art 
thou?" 

"  Ah  !  it  is  Seth,"  said  the  girl,  rising  to  her  feet. 
"Hist!  Here  am  I." 

"  Why  art  thou  here  ? "  said  the  newcomer  anx- 
iously. "  What  hath  happened  ? " 

By  way  of  answer  the  girl  burst  into  a  passion  of 
sobbing,  rocking  herself  to  and  fro  and  tearing  at 
her  black  braids.  The  lad  stared  at  her  in  amaze- 
ment and  fear,  then  hastily  casting  aside  the  skin 
water-bottle  with  its  tinkling  brass  cups,  which  he 
carried  upon  his  back,  he  knelt  down  by  the  con- 
vulsed little  figure,  and  throwing  one  arm  about  it 
began  to  speak  in  low  soothing  tones. 

"  Anat,  little  sister,  come,  tell  me  what  hath  hap- 
pened. Thou  must  indeed,  little  one.  I  should 
not  have  left  thee  alone ;  thou  hast  been  frightened, 
is  it  not  so  ? " 

Thus  encouraged  the  blind  girl  finally  managed 
to  tell  her  story,  albeit  in  disjointed,  half  intelligi- 
ble words. 

"He  heard  thee  singing,  little  one,"  said  her 
brother,  knitting  his  black  brows  angrily,  "and 
would  have  carried  thee  away  like  a  bird." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  girl  fiercely.  "  But  that  is  not 
all,  he  said  that  to-morrow  we  should  both  be  sold  ; 
yet  it  may  be  that  he  will  not  care  for  buying  and 
selling  on  the  morrow.  I  know  not  how  I  could 


THE  BLIND  SINGER.  15 

have  done  it,  but  of  a  sudden  I  felt  a  great  strength 
come  upon  me.  I  pushed  him  over  the  ledge — I 
heard  him  fall — "  and  she  caught  her  breath  with 
a  quick  shudder. 

"  And  thou  didst  well,  little  one  !  "  said  the  boy. 
"  It  matters  not  what  hath  befallen  him,  the  gods 
helped  thee.  But  the  other — there  were  two, 
saidst  thou  ?  He  will  return.  We  must  get  us 
away  from  here  and  at  once." 

"Where  shall  we  go?"  said  Anat  plaintively. 
"We  are  even  as  the  birds  that  flee  before  the 
hunter,  only  to  fall  at  last  into  his  hand." 

"Not  so,  little  one ;  the  pursued  eaglets  flee  away 
into  the  desert.  So  also  will  we.  I  know  of  a 
secure  resting-place,  and  thou  shalt  not  again  stay 
alone." 

"Shall  we  go  now?" 

"  Yes,  now.  When  I  shall  have  gathered  to- 
gether our  possessions  ;  but  they  be  few,  it  will  not 
take  long." 

The  lad  rose  to  his  feet  with  a  sigh,  and  looked 
out  and  away  from  their  lofty  eyrie.  Far  below 
them  lay  a  floor  of  shining  blue-green,  the  fertile 
plains  of  the  Nile,  shadowed  here  and  there  with 
groups  of  clustered  palm  trees.  Through  the 
midst  of  these  plains  rolled  the  sacred  river,  like  a 
flood  of  gold.  On  either  side  of  it  rose  the  white 
walls  and  strange  many-colored  towers  of  the  city 


16  STEPHEN 

of  Memphis,  all  transfigured  in  the  shining  mist  of 
the  setting  sun.  And  beyond  trooped  the  grim 
procession  of  the  pyramids,  solemn  sentinels  on  the 
borders  of  a  desert  which  the  Egyptians  thought 
to  be  boundless,  behind  whose  golden  rim,  they 
believed,  lay  the  regions  of  the  departed 


CHAPTER  II. 

GOOD   TIDINGS   OUT   OF   THE   DESERT. 

"  T  HEAR  some  one  coming." 

1     "  How  can  that  be,  Anat  ?    I  see  no  one." 

"  It  matters  not,  there  is  some  one ;  I  can  hear 
the  tinkle  of  the  harness  bells,  it  is  from  the  desert 
they  come." 

"A  caravan  thinkest  thou,  little  one  ? "  said  Seth, 
looking  with  an  indulgent  smile  at  the  flushed  face 
with  its  strange  widely-opened  dark  eyes. 

"  Nay,"  said  the  girl  after  a  pause,  shaking  her 
head  decidedly;  "there  is  but  one — one  on  a  swift 
dromedary." 

"  By  Horus  !  thou  art  right,  I  see  the  man  now, 
he  is  coming  this  way."  And  shaking  his  tinkling 
cups,  the  lad  darted  away  to  meet  the  traveler. 

"  Water  !  Fresh  cool  water,  the  gift  of  God  to 
the  thirsty ! "  he  cried  aloud.  And  the  stranger, 
scorched  by  the  withering  breath  of  the  desert, 


i8  STEPHEN 

gladly  dismounted  and  drank  deep  of  the  proffered 
cup. 

"God  grant  thee  peace,  whoever  thou  art !"  he 
said  in  a  low  deep  voice,  turning  his  piercing  eyes 
upon  the  boy.  "  How  doth  it  chance  that  thou  art 
here  in  the  desert  ?  Surely  not  many  come  this  way. 
Why  art  thou  not  rather  plying  thy  trade  in  yonder 
city  ? "  He  felt  in  his  wallet  for  a  coin  as  he  spoke. 

The  boy  flushed  deeply  and  hung  his  head  with- 
out answering. 

"  It  is  a  happy  chance  for  me  that  thou  hadst  the 
desert  traveler  in  thy  thought,"  continued  the 
stranger  with  a  smile  of  singular  sweetness,  "  for  I 
could  no  longer  abide  the  brackish  water  of  the 
march,  and  was  pushing  ahead  of  the  caravan  with 
all  possible  speed  for  a  draught  from  a  certain  cool 
fountain  that  I  know  not  far  from  here." 

"The  fountain  of  Kera?"  said  the  boy,  look- 
ing up. 

"Even  so,  and  it  is  of  that  I  have  just  drunken  ? 
Ay,  I  thought  so,  though  it  is  many  moons  since  I 
have  tasted  it."  Stroking  his  long  beard  thought- 
fully, the  stranger  continued,  "  I  shall  wait  here  now 
till  the  others  come  up,  it  will  not  be  long.  Who 
sits  yonder  in  the  shadow  of  the  rock  ?" 

"My  sister,"  replied  the  lad  briefly.  "She  is 
blind,"  he  added,  moved  by  a  sudden  impulse. 

"  Blind  ?    Ah,  the  pity  of  it,  the  pity  of  it !"  said 


GOOD  TIDINGS  OUT  OF  THE  DESERT.      19 

the  man,  passing  his  hand  swiftly  across  his  eyes. 
"  Would  to  God  " — then  he  broke  off  suddenly  and 
commanded  his  dromedary  to  lie  down ;  the  beast 
obeyed,  moaning  and  shaking  his  head.  "  He  also 
smells  water,  yet  hath  he  drunken  his  fill  yester 
eve.  Be  quiet,  Neha !  thou  shalt  again  drink. — 
And  the  little  one  is  blind  ? " 

"  Yes,  but  she  hath  wonderful  hearing,"  said 
Seth  proudly.  "  She  heard  the  tinkle  of  thy  har- 
ness bells  before  I  saw  thee." 

"  Yes,  yes  !  I  know,  no  one  better,  it  was  once  so 
with  me,  but  seeing  is  also  good.  Thanks  be  to 
the  Wonderful,  the  Prophet  of  Israel,  I  know  that 
now!" 

The  lad  looked  at  the  man  in  puzzled  silence. 
They  had  now  approached  the  great  rock,  in  the 
shadow  of  which  the  blind  girl  was  sitting. 

"  Greetings  to  thee,  little  one  ! "  said  the  stranger, 
sitting  down  in  the  sand  near  the  child  and  looking 
earnestly  into  her  dark  sightless  eyes. 

"  Who  is  it  that  is  speaking  to  me  ?" 

"  Do  not  fear,  Anat,  I  am  here,"  said  Seth,  quietly 
possessing  himself  of  one  of  the  slender  brown 
hands. 

"I  am  not  afraid  ;  the  voice  is  good." 

"  Where  dwellest  thou  ? "  continued  the  stranger. 

"  We  are  even  as  the  wild  goats  of  the  desert,'* 
said  the  boy  bitterly,  "  wandering  among  the  rocks 


20  STEPHEN 

by  day,  and  at  night  sleeping  where  the  night  over- 
takes us." 

"  Surely  thou  art  not  alone  in  the  world,"  urged 
the  stranger,  "thy  parents,  where  are  they  ?" 

"The  Nile  hath  risen  seven  times  now  since  they 
passed  into  the  regions  of  the  dead,"  said  Anat, 
raising  her  drooping  head.  "  Many  passed  with  them 
by  reason  of  a  great  sickness.  I  also  was  stricken, 
and  afterward  mine  eyes  were  darkened,  not  sud- 
denly, but  slowly  even  as  the  evening  deepens  into 
the  black  night.  It  is  always  night  now." 

"Ah,  yes!"  said  the  stranger  sighing  "a  night 
wherein  one  hath  strange  dreams,  and  where  fear 
standeth  by  the  pillow  of  sleep,  and  walks  always 
at  the  right  hand  in  the  waking  hours." 

"And  thou  alone  carest  for  the  little  one?"  he 
continued,  fixing  his  keen  eyes  upon  the  boy. 

"  I  alone,"  said  the  boy  proudly.  "  We  dwelt 
among  yonder  hills,  and  I  plied  my  trade  in  the 
city  below,  but—  "  here  he  checked  himself  sud- 
denly, and  looked  suspiciously  at  his  questioner. 
"Wilt  thou  not  break  thy  fast  ?"  he  said  at  length. 
"Thou  art  our  guest." 

The  stranger  bowed  his  head  gravely,  laying  his 
hand  upon  his  breast  as  he  did  so.  He  understood. 

Then  Seth  made  haste  and  fetched  from  a  neigh- 
boring crevice  in  the  rock  dates  and  parched  corn 
together  with  a  gourd  of  water.  Their  guest  ate 
of  the  food,  the  lad  also  and  the  maiden. 


GOOD  TIDINGS  OUT  OF  THE  DESERT.      21 

"  I  was  blind,"  said  the  stranger  at  length  rising, 
"and  I  was  healed  of  my  blindness  by  the  great 
prophet  of  Israel.  They  call  him  Jesus." 

"  Where  dwells  he  ? " 

"  In  Jerusalem,  far  away  beyond  the  wilderness," 
and  he  pointed  towards  the  desert  from  which  he 
had  just  come. 

"  Dost  thou  return  thither  ? " 

"  Not  many  days  hence,  when  I  shall  have  sofd 
my  goods  and  loaded  my  camels.  I  shall  not 
forget  thy  hospitality ;  when  I  again  pass  this  way 
fetch  me  water,  my  son,  and  hear  what  I  shall  say 
to  thee.  Maiden,  I  salute  thee  !  Farewell."  And 
he  sprang  upon  his  beast  and  was  gone  in  a  swift 
cloud  of  dust  toward  the  slow-moving  caravan, 
which  crawled  like  a  snake  over  the  yellow  wastes 
of  the  desert. 

Seth  did  not  run  with  his  water-bottles  and  his 
tinkling  cups  to  meet  them,  as  was  his  wont.  He 
sat  silent  in  the  shadow  of  the  great  rock,  thinking. 

Anat  also  was  silent  for  a  time,  then  she  said 
timidly :  "  I  would  that  I  too  might  see  the  man 
of  blessing,  he  who  dwells  beyond  the  wilderness 
and  hath  power  to  restore  sight  to  the  blind. 
There  is  no  one  in  the  land  of  Egypt  who  can  do 
the  like." 

"We  have  no  treasure  to  give  him;  would  he 
not  say  to  us,  'Where  then  is  thy  gold,  or  thy 


22  STEPHEN 

precious  stones,  or  thy  beasts  of  burden,  before  I 
shall  do  this  thing  for  thee  ? '  Thou  knowest  not 
the  ways  of  magicians ;  I  know,  for  I  have  heard, 
yet  is  there  no  magician  in  all  Egypt  who  can  cure 
blindness." 

Anat  sighed.  "  I  have  my  mother's  necklace," 
she  said  at  length,  laying  her  hand  upon  the  string 
of  coins  about  her  neck.  "  Some  of  them  are  of 
gold  and  very  heavy."  Then  she  caught  her  breath 
with  a  half  sob.  "The  men— yesterday — they 
would  have  sold  us.  I — yes,  I  would  be  a  slave  if 
only  I  might  see  ! " 

"  I  will  be  a  slave,  and  thou  shalt  have  thine  eyes 
together  with  thy  freedom,"  cried  Seth,  starting  to 
his  feet.  "  I  will  say  to  the  man,  give  thou  sight  to 
these  eyes  and  I  am  thy  bondman  from  henceforth 
and  forever.  I  will  serve  thee  with  my  heart's 
blood." 

"  I  also  will  serve  him,  for  I  will  not  leave  thee, 
my  brother ;  but  how  shall  we  pass  the  wilder- 
ness?" 

"There  are  many  caravans  passing  through," 
said  the  lad,  looking  with  troubled  eyes  into  the 
distance,  "but  the  way  is  long  and  we  have  no 
beast." 

"The  stranger  who  ate  of  our  bread,  will  he  not 
take  us  to  that  far  country  ? " 

"  It  may  be "  began  Seth,  then  he  stopped 


GOOD  TIDINGS  OUT  OF  THE  DESERT.      23 

suddenly — Anat  had  grasped  his  arm  convulsively, 
her  face  pallid  to  the  lips. 

"The  voices !  "  she  gasped.  "  I  hear  them,  they 
will  sell  us  into  bondage  !  Let  us  hide,  quick ! " 

Without  a  word  the  lad  hurried  her  into  a  nar- 
row cleft  in  the  rocks  not  far  distant.  Here,  tug- 
ging with  all  his  strength  at  a  broad  stone  which 
was  half  buried  in  the  drifting  sand,  he  at  length 
succeeded  in  pulling  it  aside.  The  opening  dis- 
closed a  flight  of  steps  cut  in  the  solid  rock,  wind- 
ing down  into  impenetrable  darkness.  From  the 
depths  there  ascended  a  stifling  odor  of  resin  and 
spices. 

The  girl  drew  back  gasping,  "Not  here!"  she 
said  faintly.  "  I  am  afraid ;  I  cannot  go  further,  it 
is  the  breath  of  the  dead." 

The  lad  hesitated  an  instant ;  he  too  heard  the 
sound  of  voices  and  the  tinkling  of  harness  bells. 
"  Listen,"  he  whispered,  "  I  know  not  the  voices, 
but  thou  knowest." 

"  Yes,  yes  !  it  is  the  voice ;  I  will  go  anywhere  to 
escape  " 

The  tinkling  sound  and  the  slow  steps  of  the 
beasts  of  burden  became  momently  louder,  to- 
gether with  the  harsh  tones  of  a  human  voice. 

"'Tis  a  fool's  errand,  Besa ;  thou  hast  lost  what 
little  wit  the  gods  gave  thee  in  thy  tumble  of  yes- 
terday. By  Sechet !  I  have  not  yet  done  laughing 


24  STEPHEN 

to  think  of  the  way  the  little  hell-witch  served 
thee!" 

"Who  could  know  that  the  beggar  understood 
Greek !  " 

"  Pooh  !  that  is  nothing  ;  no  one  better  than  the 
beggars,  they  whine  for  every  man's  gold  in  his 
own  tongue.  Ha,  ha  !  '  Thou  shouldst  have  per- 
fumed garlands,'  saidst  thou  with  tongue  as  smooth 
as  Sesame  oil ;  then  I  saw  only  a  flying  bundle  of 
red  cloth.  Besa  was  gone.  Ha,  ha !  " 

"Why  didst  thou  not  seize  her,  fool?"  snarled 
the  other,  grinding  his  teeth.  "I  will  find  her 
should  I  look  a  lifetime,  if  only  to  twist  that  little 
singing  throat  of  hers." 

"  That  shalt  thou  not  do,  friend  ;  that  singing 
throat  is  gold  and  it  is  mine.  Come,  we  will  go 
back ;  they  are  not  here." 

"What  is  this?"  said  Besa  triumphantly,  dis- 
mounting from  his  ass  and  holding  up  a  brilliant 
bit  of  striped  drapery ;  "  this,  or  one  like  it,  was  on 
the  girl's  neck  yesterday." 

Amu,  for  so  was  the  other  man  called,  made  no 
reply :  he  was  looking  fixedly  into  a  narrow  cleft 
of  the  rocks.  Presently  he  too  dismounted. 
"  Some  one  has  been  here,"  he  said,  pointing  to  the 
fresh  footmarks  in  the  sand  which  had  drifted  deep 
into  the  opening. 


CHAPTER  III. 

AT    THE    PALACE   OF   THE    HIGH    PRIEST. 

"IT  is  well  that  by  the  blessing  of  Jehovah 
1  thou  hast  recovered  thy  health,  my  son,  for 
though  we  have  accomplished  the  death  of  the 
blasphemer,  there  yet  remains  the*  rabble  of  his 
followers.  With  the  trunk  of  the  poisonous  vine 
we  must  also  thoroughly  burn  the  branches  lest 
they  bud  anew." 

"  Thou  hast  the  tongue  of  wisdom,"  said  Caia- 
phas  in  a  tone  of  dull  indifference,  his  eyes  fixed 
vacantly  on  the  range  of  blue  hills  at  the  verge  of 
the  horizon. 

Annas  glanced  impatiently  at  the  white  worn 
face.  "They  are  already  spreading  reports  both 
in  Jerusalem  and  in  all  Galilee  that  the  man  is 
alive  again,  that,  forsooth,  he  has  been  seen  of 
them.  The  temple  resounds  daily  to  the  voice  of 
their  noisome  praises  and  thanksgivings.  I  have 


26  STEPHEN 

counseled  that  they  be  thrust  out,"  he  continued 
frowning,  "for  what  is  it  else  than  blasphemy — 
lies.  It  cannot  be  true ! "  And  the  speaker 
started  to  his  feet,  and  began  to  pace  up  and  down 
the  terrace  of  the  roof  garden.  "  The  Sanhedrim 
seems  satisfied  that  nothing  will  come  of  it,"  he 
went  on  angrily.  "  '  Let  be,'  say  they,  '  the  thing 
will  die  even  as  the  man.'  Pah  !  they  are  blind. 
Look  you !  here  are  the  facts.  The  man's  body 
disappears  on  the  third  day  after  the  crucifixion, 
the  Roman  guards  tell  a  drunken  tale  of  earth- 
quake and  the  appearance  of  an  angel  with  a 
sword  ;  lies,  all  lies !  That  I  have  managed — gold 
worketh  wonders ;  they  know  now  that  they  were 
drunken,  and  that  his  disciples  stole  the  body  away 
while  they  slept.  So  far,  well.  Then  there  is  the 
matter  of  the  rent  veil  before  the  Holy  of  Holies  ; 
a  sore  mischance,  the  fabric  had  been  eaten  of 
insects,  there  is  no  question  of  it,  how  else  should 
it " 

"Who  saw  the  thing  done?"  interrupted  Caia- 
phas  in  a  hollow  tone. 

"A  half  score  of  priests  who  were  preparing  the 
altar  for  the  evening  sacrifice.  It  was  rent  with  a 
loud  noise,  say  they,  and  the  Holiest  place  re- 
vealed on  a  sudden.  I  have  counseled  that  they 
hold  their  peace ;  it  may  be  that  they  also  are  apos- 
tate, but  I  dare  not  take  the  steps  that  I  would  in 


AT  THE  PALACE  OF  THE  HIGH  PRIEST.     27 

the  matter  because  of  the  people.  Of  one  thing 
I  am  certain,  the  man  is  dead ;  in  that  have  we 
triumphed.  I  saw  him  die,  and  he  is  as  assuredly 
perished  as  are  the  wretched  malefactors  that 
groaned  that  day  on  either  side  of  his  cross." 

The  face  of  Caiaphas  blanched  to  the  livid  color 
of  death.  "Say  no  more,"  he  gasped  huskily,  "I 
am  not  well." 

Annas  stared  at  him  for  an  instant  with  some- 
thing like  contempt.  "  I  will  call  a  servant,"  he 
said  at  length.  "Thou  shouldst  drink  wine  to 
strengthen  thy  heart." 

"The  man  is  strangely  wrought  upon  by  this 
thing,"  he  thought  within  himself  as  he  strode 
away.  "  He  is  like  to  a  rope  of  sand  ;  I  must  not 
look  to  him  for  help.  Who  is  there  then  of  stout 
heart  and  good  courage  ?  Issachar — Johanan — 
Alexander?  they  all  be  like  wax  which  the  sun 
hath  melted.  Stay !  there  is  the  young  Saul  of 
Tarsus,  a  Pharisee  of  the  Pharisees,  and  zealous 
for  the  upbuilding  of  Israel ;  I  will  even  dispatch 
a  swift  messenger  for  him.  He  will  be  an  instru- 
ment of  wrath  in  mine  hand  against  the  enemies 
of  the  Lord  Jehovah." 

As  the  sound  of  his  footsteps  died  away,  the 
sick  man  raised  his  head.  "  Begone ! "  he  said 
with  an  irritable  gesture  to  the  servant  who  stood 
awaiting  his  pleasure.  "  Call  my  wife." 


28  STEPHEN 

Even  as  he  spoke,  the  heavy  curtains  which 
hung  over  the  doorway  near  at  hand,  parted,  and 
the  figure  of  a  woman  emerged  onto  the  terrace. 

"Where  hast  thou  been?"  said  the  invalid,  fix- 
ing his  sunken  eyes  angrily  upon  her.  "  Dost  thou 
not  know  that  I  cannot  abide  that  clumsy  hind, 
Barak.  Where  is  my  cordial  ?" 

"  Here,  my  lord,"  said  Anna  soothingly,  pour- 
ing a  few  drops  of  some  bright-colored  liquid  into 
a  cup.  Her  slender  hand  trembled  so  violently  as 
she  did  this  that  a  portion  of  the  contents  was 
spilled,  and  lay  a  crimson  pool  between  them  on 
the  white  marble  of  the  pavement. 

The  sick  man  shrank  back  among  his  pillows, 
his  eyes  starting  from  his  head.  "Ay  !  there  it  is 
again  !"  he  muttered,  huskily.  "Blood,  blood — the 
blood  of  the  Nazarene !  I  shall  always  see  it. 
Look  !"  he  shrieked,  "it  is  crawling  towards  me  ! " 

The  woman  sprang  forward,  her  face  colorless, 
"It  is  nothing!"  she  said,  breathlessly,  "nothing, 
my  lord  !  See  !  it  is  gone.  Come,  drink  the  cor- 
dial, after  that  thou  shalt  rest;  thou  art  weary." 

Caiaphas  looked  into  the  cup.  "It  is  blood,"  he 
said,  shudderingly,  "yet  must  I  drink  it ;  God  is 
just ! "  Then  he  lay  back  among  his  pillows  once 
more,  his  eyes  closed.  After  a  time  a  faint  color 
crept  into  his  livid  face. 

The  woman  watched   him   patiently  for  a  full 


AT  THE  PALACE  OF  THE  HIGH  PRIEST,    29 

hour,  more  than  once  her  pale  lips  moving  as  if  in 
prayer.  From  her  dark  eyes  there  seemed  to  stream 
forth  a  visible  radiance  of  love  which  brooded  in 
silent  blessing  over  the  helpless  form  at  her  side. 

At  length  the  sick  man  stirred  a  little,  his  eyes 
unclosed.  "  Has  it  been  told  thee  what  hath  befal- 
len our  son  ?"  he  said,  slowly  and  clearly. 

The  woman  bowed  her  head.  "  It  hath  been  told 
me,"  she  whispered  brokenly,  "that  his  life  was 
ended  even  as " 

"He  was  crucified,"  said  Caiaphas,  still  in  the 
same  slow,  clear  tone,  "even  as  was  the  Nazarene. 
God  is  just.  Blood  for  blood,  it  is  the  law,  and 
hath  been  from  the  beginning." 

"  God  is  also  love,"  said  Anna,  looking  fearfully 
into  her  husband's  face. 

He  returned  the  look  with  one  of  full  intel- 
ligence. "  Do  not  fear,"  he  said,  gently,  "  it  is  best 
that  the  matter  hath  been  spoken  between  us ;  it 
were  like  an  open  grave  else.  The  madness  hath 

passed  from  my  brain  now,  and  I  see "  He 

paused,  and  so  terrible  a  look  came  over  his  face 
that  his  wife  cried  out  faintly. 

"God  is  love,"  she  repeated  in  a  low  voice, 
wringing  her  hands ;  "  He  will  forgive.  How 
couldst  thou  know  that  the  Nazarene  was  the 
Anointed  One  ?  Yet,  even  he  said,  '  Father,  for- 
give them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do ! '  as 
they  drove  the  nails  into  his  hands." 


30  STEPHEN 

"Woman!"  said  Caiaphas,  with  something  of  his 
old  high-priestly  authority,  "hold  thy  peace,  and 
forget  that  thou  hast  spoken  blasphemy.  Didst 
think  then  that  I — I — the  High  Priest,  was  ready 
to  confess  that  the  Nazarene  was  the  Messiah  of 
Israel !  I  am  ready  to  confess  that  he  was  an 
innocent  man ;  and  I  am  blood-guilty  in  that  I 
brought  about  his  death.  God  hath  punished  me 
by  slaying  my  son,  even  as  he  punished  David  for 
his  sin.  After  this  once  we  will  speak  of  the  thing 
no  more ;  it  shall  never  again  be  named  between 
us.  Nor  shall  it  be  made  known  to  any  other.  It 
were  not  meet  that  so  shameful  a  thing  be  bruited 
about  concerning  the  High  Priest.  Our  flesh  and 
blood  is  accursed." 

The  mother's  face  flushed  hotly.  "  The  lad  was 
innocent!"  she  cried.  "He  was  sinned  against 
most  foully,  but  he  himself  sinned  not.  He  is  in 
Paradise,  for  he  hath  the  word  of  the  Lord." 

"What  meanest  thou  ?  Who  told  thee  concern- 
ing the  thing?"  said  Caiaphas,  raising  himself  up 
and  fixing  his  burning  eyes  upon  her  face." 

"  I  had  it  from  a  lad  named  Stephen,  who  was 
even  as  a  brother  to  him  who  was  our  son — Titus, 
he  was  called.  As  he  hung  upon  the  cross  in 
agony,  the  Lord  spake  to  him  and  said,  'This  day 
shalt  thou  be  with  me  in  Paradise.'  " 

"Who  is  this  Stephen?"  said  Caiaphas,  in  a 


AT  THE  PALACE  OF  THE  HIGH  PRIEST.     31 

low,  terrible  voice.  "And  whom  dost  thou  call 
Lord?" 

Anna  trembled  with  terror,  she  tried  to  speak, 
but  the  words  died  upon  her  lips. 

"Speak,  woman  !" 

"  Stephen  is — the  son  of  the  Greek  who  took  our 
child.  The  man  hath  been  punished  for  his  sin. 
He  also  perished  with  the  Lord." 

There  was  an  awful  silence.  Then  Caiaphas 
again  spoke,  and  his  voice  was  as  the  voice  of  a 
stranger  in  the  ears  of  Anna.  "This  Stephen, 
the  son  of  the  malefactor,  doth  he  still  live  ?" 

"He — lives;  but,  oh  my  husband,  I  beseech 
thee — do  not  harm  him,  so  innocent,  so  heavenly 
a  one  ! " 

But  through  the  words  of  her  entreaty  sounded 
the  inexorable  tones  of  the  High  Priest's  voice. 

"  Blood  for  blood  !  The  iniquities  of  the  fathers 
shall  be  visited  upon  the  children,  even  unto  the 
third  and  fourth  generations.  It  is  the  law." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

IN   PLACE   OF  JUDAS. 

WHAT  and  if  while  we  wait  for  the  fulfil- 
ment of  the  promise,  the  same  men  who 
have  slain  our  Lord  shall  also  turn  their  hanc 
against  us?  We  be  few  in  number  and  there  is 
naught  to  shield  us  from  their  fury.  Thou  didst 
see  when  we  praised  God  in  the  temple  even  this 
day,  how  the  chief  priests  and  the  elders  cast  upon 
us  looks  which  were  as  sharp  arrows  in  the  hands 
of  mighty  men  of  valor.  Shall  the  wolves  which 
slew  the  Shepherd  spare  the  flock  ?" 

"  Hadst  thou  faith  even  as  a  grain  of  mustard 
seed  thou  wouldst  not  doubt  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
'Ye  shall  be  baptized  with  the  Holy  Spirit  not 
many  days  hence;  depart  not  from  Jerusalem  till 
that  the  promise  is  fulfilled  to  you!'  And  how 
sayest  thou  that  there  is  naught  to  shield  us.  God, 
the  Almighty  One,  even  the  Father  of  our  Lord 

(32) 


IN  PLACE  OF  JUDAS.  33 

Jesus,  whom  we  saw  received  up  into  heaven,  he 
shall  protect  us  from  the  wrath  of  the  Jews." 

"  He  hath  suffered  me  to  be  tempted  with  doubts 
and  fears  more  than  most,"  said  Thomas,  glancing 
fearfully  at  a  group  of  men  in  the  garb  of  rabbis 
who  were  approaching  them  along  the  narrow 
street.  "  But  do  not  thou  despise  me  because  of 
mine  infirmities.  The  Lord  said  to  thee,  '  Thou  art 
Peter,  the  rock ! '  unto  me  he  said,  '  Be  not  faithless 
but  believing.'  It  is  not  easy  for  me  to  believe,  it 
is  not  easy  for  me  to  rejoice,  when  the  Lord  hath 
left  us  alone  and  unfriended. — Ah  !  sawest  thou 
that  look  ?  The  old  man  was  Annas,  the  other  was 
Issachar,  the  cruel ;  but  in  the  eyes  of  the  young 
man  with  them  there  burned  a  very  fury  of  hate. 
He  lusteth  for  our  blood." 

"  I  have  not  before  seen  his  face,"  said  Peter 
thoughtfully;  then  he  turned  himself  about  to  look 
after  the  retreating  figures.  As  he  did  so  the  young 
man  of  whom  Thomas  had  spoken  also  turned,  and 
again  Peter  felt  the  indignant  fire  of  his  gaze. 
"It  matters  not,"  he  said  after  a  pause,  "what  the 
heart  of  man  shall  devise,  the  will  of  the  Almighty 
shall  be  done,  on  earth,  as  also  in  heaven,"  and  he 
looked  upward  longingly,  as  if  he  hoped  to  pierce 
through  the  deeps  of  blue  to  that  place  whither  his 
Lord  had  gone. 

And  having  come  now  to  the  place  where  they 

3 


34  STEPHEN 

were  wont  to  gather  together,  they  went  in.  It 
was  the  same  house  where  they  had  made  ready 
the  Passover  at  the  word  of  the  Lord,  on  that  awful 
night  in  which  he  was  betrayed.  And  in  the  large 
upper  room,  made  sacred  by  the  memories  of  that 
last  supper  with  their  Lord,  they  found  them  which 
believed.  It  was  to  this  place  they  had  come  after 
they  had  seen  the  cloud  receive  him  out  of  their 
sight,  the  words  of  the  angels  yet  ringing  in  their 
ears  :  "This  Jesus  which  was  received  up  from  you 
into  heaven,  shall  so  come  in  like  manner  as  ye 
beheld  him  going  into  heaven."  And  here  day  by 
day  they  gathered  to  wait  for  the  mysterious  Com- 
forter, which  was  to  come  to  them  out  of  heaven, 
they  knew  not  how.  In  the  hearts  of  some  of 
them  burned  the  hope  that  the  Comforter  might  be 
the  Lord  himself,  and  that  at  last  they  should  see 
the  promised  kingdom  of  the  Messiah. 

"  There  be  but  eleven  of  us  whom  He  chose  for 
this  ministry,"  said  Peter,  looking  around  on  the 
little  assembly,  which  numbered  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty  persons.  "It  was  needful  that  the 
Scriptures  should  be  fulfilled  concerning  Judas, 
who  betrayed  our  Lord  into  the  hands  of  them  that 
slew  him.  But  now  he  is  dead,  and  hath  gone  to 
his  own  place,  and  it  is  written  in  the  book  of  the 
Psalms,  '  Let  his  habitation  be  made  desolate,  let 
no  man  dwell  therein.  His  office  let  another  take.' 


IN  PL  A  CE  OF  JUDA  S.  35 

Of  the  men  therefore  which  have  companied  with 
us  while  the  Lord  Jesus  remained  upon  earth,  from 
the  day  when  he  received  baptism  in  the  Jordan, 
unto  that  day  in  which  he  was  taken  up  into  heaven, 
of  these  must  one  become  a  witness  of  His  resur- 
rection." 

"  How  then  shall  the  will  of  God  be  known  in 
the  matter  ?  "  said  John  gravely.  "  We  have  not 
the  spirit  of  discernment,  for  did  we  not  trust 
even  Judas  who  betrayed  him  ?  Albeit  the  Lord 
knew  him  from  the  beginning." 

"  Let  God  himself  choose !  "  cried  Peter.  "  It 
hath  been  the  custom  in  Israel  since  the  days  of 
old  to  decide  such  matters  by  lot.  So  did  God 
select  his  chosen  priests  from  the  family  of  Eleazar. 
So  also  doth  he  chose  which  one  shall  stand  by  the 
altar  of  incense  in  the  temple." 

Then  wrote  they  upon  tablets  of  wood,  every  one 
the  name  of  the  man  he  thought  most  holy  and 
acceptable,  and  worthy  to  witness  with  the  eleven 
to  the  resurrection  of  Jesus.  And  the  tablets  were 
cast  into  a  basiij;  and  it  was  found  that  Joseph 
Barsabas,  called  Justus,  and  Matthias  were  named. 
Then  Peter  called  these  two  men  to  stand  up  before 
the  company  of  the  disciples,  and  he  prayed  aloud 
unto  the  Lord  in  these  words  : 

"Thou,  Lord,  which  knowestthe  hearts oi  all  men, 
show  of  these  two  the  one  whom  thou  hast  chosen 


36  STEPHEN 

to  take  the  place  in  this  ministry  and  apostleship, 
from  which  Judas  fell  away  that  he  might  go  to 
his  own  place." 

Then  cast  they  the  tablets,  whereon  were  written 
the  names  of  Justus  and  Matthias,  into  the  brazen 
cup ;  and  Peter  shook  the  cup,  and  the  name  of 
Matthias  leapt  out,  and  from  henceforward  he  was 
numbered  with  the  apostles. 

As  they  went  away  from  the  upper  room  to  their 
abiding  places,  Mary  the  mother  of  Jesus,  and 
Salome,  and  Mary  of  Magdala  together  with  John, 
the  beloved  disciple,  they  talked  with  one  another 
of  what  had  been  done.  Stephen  also  was  with 
them. 

"We  are  again  twelve,"  said  John  with  a  sigh, 
for  he  bethought  him  of  the  days  when  there  was 
yet  another. 

"The  Lord  was  upon  earth  for  forty  days  after 
that  he  arose  from  the  dead,"  said  Stephen  thought- 
fully, his  eyes  fixed  upon  a  bright  star  which  shone 
above  the  horizon  like  a  golden  lamp.  "  Why  then 
did  not  he  himself  choose  one  to  fill  the  place  of 
Judas?" 

John  looked  startled.  "  What  dost  thou  mean  ? " 
he  said  quickly,  turning  to  look  at  the  young  man 
in  the  half  darkness. 

"  Could  he  not  have  chosen,  had  he  wished  it  ? 
Could  he  not  yet  choose,  being  set  down  at  the 
right  hand  of  God?" 


IN  PLACE  OF  JUDAS.  37 

"And  dost  thou  think  to  question  the  doings  of 
God's  elect? "  said  John,  a  ring  of  authority  in  his 
mild  tones. 

"  Nay.  my  son,  chide  not  the  lad,"  said  Mary. 
"  I  myself  doubted  whether  indeed  the  casting  of 
lots  be  pleasing  to  God.  God  hath  permitted  men 
many  things  in  the  past  because  of  their  blind- 
ness." 

"  It  is  a  practice  of  wicked  men,"  cried  Stephen. 
"I  have  seen  thieves  do  the  like  to  apportion  their 
booty.  And  did  not  the  Roman  soldiers  also  at 
the  foot  of  his  cross  cast  lots  for  the  garments  of 
the  crucified  one  ? " 

"God  knoweth  that  we  meant  it  aright,"  said 
John  humbly,  his  face  full  of  trouble.  "We  have 
not  yet  the  spirit  of  discernment,  and  are  as  those 
who  stumble  in  the  darkness." 

"  When  the  spirit  of  truth  is  come  he  will  teach 
you  all  things,"  said  Stephen  softly. 

"'And  bring  all  things  to  your  remembrance, 
whatsoever  I  have  taught  you.'  Ay !  those  were 
his  words  We  have  need  of  it,  sore  need ;  did 
we  not  forget  on  that  day  of  dread  that  he  had 
even  told  us,  told  us  plainly,  and  many  times,  that 
so  it  must  be  ?  yet  had  we  failed  to  understand. 
Nay  !  we  would  not  understand." 

The  slight  form  of  Mary  trembled  and  her  voice 
shook  as  she  said,  "  Many  years  hath  fear  been  a 


38  STEPHEN 

guest  in  my  heart  since  the  day  Simeon  said  to 
me — when  I  presented  my  son  a  babe  before  the 
Lord,  '  Behold,  this  child  is  set  for  the  falling  and 
rising  up  of  many  in  Israel,  and  for  a  sign  which 
is  spoken  against.  Yea,  and  a  sword  shall  pierce 
through  thine  own  soul,  that  thoughts  out  of  many 
hearts  may  be  revealed.'  The  sword  hath  drunken 
deep  of  my  heart's  blood,  yet  will  I  trust  him 
though  he  slay  me." 

"The  worst  hath  happened  for  us  all,"  said 
Stephen,  clasping  her  hand.  "  He  is  alive !  He  is 
ascended  !  and  yet  is  he  with  us,  for  he  said  '  Lo,  I 
am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world  ! ' " 

"  It  cannot  be  then  that  we  have  gone  very  far 
wrong,"  said  John  slowly.  "  It  shall  yet  be  accord- 
ing to  his  will.  If  Matthias  be  not  the  elect  of  God 
for  the  Apostleship,  yet  shall  he  walk  with,  us,  and 
the  pierced  hand  of  the  Master  himself  shall  touch 
another  which  as  yet  we  know  not.  There  were 
thirteen  in  our  fellowship  while  he  was  upon 
earth  " 

And  having  come  to  the  place  of  their  abode, 
they  went  in. 


CHAPTER  V. 

IN   THE   ABODE  OF   KINGS. 

HAST  thou  a  torch  ? " 
"  Nay,  but  it  is  impossible  that   they  be 
here.     Pah  !  I  cannot  abide  the  odor  of  mummies." 

"  Yet  must  thou  pass  centuries  in  their  company, 
if  indeed  thou  art  fortunate  enough  to  die  in  a 
civilized  land."  And  the  speaker's  lips  widened 
till  they  revealed  a  row  of  yellow  teeth. 

Amu  bent  over  and  gazed  steadily  for  a  moment 
into  the  black  opening  that  yawned  at  his  feet, 
then  he  looked  up  at  his  companion.  Something 
in  his  sombre  eyes  caused  the  yellow  row  of  teeth 
to  disappear.  "  I  am  going  home,"  he  said  sud- 
denly. 

l'  'Tis  good  !  Go  back,  fetch  me  a  torch,  and  I 
will  explore  for  the  singing  bird.  I  am  not  minded 
to  move  from  this  place  till  I  shall  seize  her." 

"  Hast  thou  water  ? " 

(39) 


40  STEPHEN 

"  Nay,  but  thou  hast  a  bottle  at  thy  girdle  ;  give 
it  me.  Even  at  this  moment  I  thirst." 

"By  Sechet!  it  is  empty.  But  stay,  there  is  a 
fountain  beyond  the  crest  of  yonder  hill ;  go 
quench  thy  thirst.  I  will  remain  till  thou  shalt 
return." 

Besa  hesitated  ;  he  looked  steadily  into  the  lower- 
ing face  of  Amu.  "  Thou  art  in  a  strange  humor 
to-day,  friend,"  he  said  at  length.  "  I  have  been 
patient  with  thee,  but  I  will  bear  no  more.  Give 
me  thy  flask  ;  I  will  fill  it  at  the  fountain." 

The  face  of  Amu  blanched  to  a  sickly  yellow 
hue.  His  eyes  glowed  with  fury,  but  he  said  not  a 
word ;  with  a  sudden  quick  movement,  he  seized 
the  bridle  of  his  mule,  and  leaping  upon  its  back 
galloped  away  towards  Memphis. 

Besa  looked  after  him  quietly.  "What  may 
be  the  meaning  of  all  this  ? "  he  said  to  him- 
self. "  Stay,  let  me  consider  for  a  moment.  The 
man  comes  to  me  and  says  in  effect  this:  'Thou 
art  a  dealer  in  slaves  ;  I  can  procure  for  thee  two 
of  good  value,  a  lad  and  a  maiden.  The  maiden 
hath  a  voice  like  to  the  sound  of  nightingales  ;  yet 
cannot  I  bring  them  to  the  proper  purchasers.'  At 
the  same  time  I,  Besa,  am  commissioned  to  procure 
a  singing  slave  for  the  princess,  who  pineth  in  a 
sickly  melancholy.  But  what  have  I  suffered  in 
the  matter  thus  far  ?  I  have  been  half  killed  by  a 


IN  THE  ABODE  OF  KINGS.  41 

fall,  now  am  I  parched  with  thirst,  and  the  man 
lies  to  me  concerning  his  water-bottle.  I  saw  h:m 
fill  it  before  we  started,  therefore  I  ventured  to 
leave  mine  own,  which  I  could  not  at  the  moment 
lay  my  hands  upon.  There  is  no  fountain  behind 
the  brow  of  yonder  hill.  For  what  purpose  hath 
the  man  lied  ?  There  is  something  here  that  I 
cannot  see.  I  will  for  the  present  forego  the  mat- 
ter, but  there  are  two  things  to  be  set  down  for  the 
future,  and  Besa  is  not  the  man  to  forget." 

Then  he  advanced  to  the  opening  of  the  tomb, 
which  showed  black  in  its  setting  of  yellow  sand  ; 
kneeling  down,  he  looked  carefully  at  the  stone 
stairway  which  led  down  into  the  depths.  The 
sand  was  sifting  in  with  each  breath  of  the  hot 
desert  wind.  "  It  has  been  opened  but  a  short 
time,"  he  remarked  at  length.  "  It  will  be  a  pious 
act  for  me  to  replace  the  stone ;  Anubis  will 
reward  me  for  it.  One  must  not  fail  in  duty  to  the 
sacred  dead."  Then  he  raised  his  voice,  "  Rest 
quietly,  my  children  ;  there  is  nought  to  hurt  thee 
in  the  abodes  of  the  departed.  Song  and  sun- 
light, laughter  and  air  are  needed  no  more  by  the 
slaves  of  Anubis.  His  slave  shalt  thou  be  unless 
thou  presently  come  forth  in  answer  to  my  cry." 

The  sound  of  his  voice  echoed  in  dismal  rever- 
berations through  the  hollow  blackness  within, 
but  there  was  no  sign  that  his  words  fell  upon 


42  STEPHEN 

other  ears  than  those  sealed  to  eternal  silence 
within  their  swathings  of  spiced  linen.  The  heavy 
odor  of  death  ascended  in  stupefying  clouds  into 
the  face  of  the  man  as  he  knelt  at  the  edge  of  the 
tomb.  He  drew  back  a  little,  and  the  malignant 
smile  faded  from  his  face. 

"  The  stone  shall  be  put  back,"  he  said  doggedly, 
"for  I  believe,  by  my  life,  that  they  be  down  there. 
They  will  live  till  I  shall  return  with  torches  and 
men.  If  I  secure  them  both,  I  shall  be  avenged 
also  upon  Amu." 

Forthwith  he  bent  over  and  laid  hold  upon  the 
stone.  It  was  heavy,  and  though  the  lad  in  his 
mad  fear  had  succeeded  in  shoving  it  to  one  side, 
the  man  could  with  difficulty  stir  it  a  single  inch. 
The  sun  beat  down  in  fury  upon  his  head,  the  hot 
wind  sang  in  his  ears  with  a  strange  sound  of  buzz- 
ing insects  and  humming  wheels.  He  stepped 
down  into  the  stairway,  the  better  to  grasp  the 
stone  for  another  mighty  effort.  Suddenly  a  wave 
as  of  fire  swept  before  his  eyes,  his  hands  re- 
laxed their  hold,  he  reeled  a  little,  and  then  fell, 
a  nerveless  heap,  into  the  darkness. 

To  Seth  and  Anat,  who  were  crouching  behind 
a  huge  sarcophagus,  the  sound  at  first  signified 
nothing  but  some  fresh  horror. 

"I  must  cry  out,"  urged  Seth  in  a  vehement 
whisper.  "We  shall  perish  in  this  place,  for  I 
cannot  move  the  stone  from  beneath." 


IN  THE  ABODE  OF  KINGS.  43 

But  Anat  held  him  fast.  "Better  slavery  to 
death  than  to  such  a  man." 

Seth  watched  the  shaft  of  yellow  light  that 
pierced  the  thick  darkness.  "Presently,"  he 
thought  shudderingly,  "it  will  disappear."  But 
the  moments  crept  slowly  by,  and  the  sun  still 
poured  in,  revealing  the  countless  dancing  atoms 
which  had  leapt  up  from  the  sleep  of  centuries 
beneath  the  feet  of  the  fugitives. 

"  Anat,"  he  whispered,  • "  something  has  hap- 
pened ;  I  will  go  and  see." 

The  blind  girl  held  him  fast  for  a  moment 
longer.  She  bent  her  head.  There  was  no  sound 
save  the  sighing  of  the  wind  outside  and  the  hiss- 
ing murmur  of  the  sand  as  it  drifted  onto  the 
stairway  of  their  prison.  "  Go,"  she  said  with  a 
sigh  of  relief,  "  he  has  departed." 

Seth  rose  cautiously  to  his  feet  and  crept  to- 
ward the  opening ;  his  eyes  had  grown  accustomed 
to  the  darkness  now,  and  he  could  see  on  either 
side  the  vast  gaudily-painted  wooden  cases  in 
which  dwelt  the  dead.  Their  great  eyes  stared  at 
him  as  he  hurried  past.  He  stumbled  presently 
over  something  which  lay  at  the  foot  of  the  stone 
steps.  Starting  back  with  a  cry  he  perceived  that 
it  was  the  body  of  a  man.  He  had  fallen  upon 
his  face  in  the  sand  and  lay  quite  motionless. 
The  lad  stared  at  him  for  a  moment  in  fascinated 


44  STEPHEN 

silence,  then  he  bethought  him  that  presently  the 
man  might  recover  his  senses.  Turning,  he  darted 
back  into  the  darkness.  "  Come !"  he  said  breath- 
lessly in  the  ear  of  the  blind  girl. 

Treading  lightly  that  they  might  not  awake  the 
sleeper,  the  two  crept  up  the  stair,  not  without 
many  a  fearful  backward  glance  at  the  quiet  figure 
which  still  lay  on  its  face,  the  monstrous  staring 
eyes  of  the  mummies  looking  on  unmoved,  and 
the  stealthy  wind  already  beginning  to  urge  the 
uneasy  desert  to  '  Come,  cover  this  man  that  hath 
lain  him  down  to  sleep  unasked  in  the  abode  of 
kings !' 

"  Shall  I  put  the  stone  in  its  place  ?"  said  Seth, 
when  they  had  reached  the  upper  air. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  girl,  clenching  her  thin  hands. 
"  Let  him  bide  there  till  the  other  shall  seek  him, 
and  if  that  be  never,  then  I  care  not.  Would  he 
not  have  left  us  to  perish  ?  But  the  gods  stayed 
his  hand." 

The  lad  hesitated.     "  He  hath  no  water." 

"Fetch  him  water  then  and  food  also  if  thou 
wilt.  Thou  art  soft-hearted ;  for  myself  I  should 
leave  him  as  he  is.  Dost  thou  not  see  that  it  is 
now  that  we  must  make  good  our  escape  ?  Once 
the  man  hath  recovered  himself  we  are  lost.  I 
can  hear  the  bells  of  his  beast,  let  us  seize  it  and 
flee  away  into  the  desert  that  we  may  find  the 


IN  THE  ABODE  OF  KINGS.  45 

magician  who  can  open  the  eyes  of  them  that  see 
not." 

"We  could  not  pass  the  wilderness,  we  should 
perish  by  the  way." 

Anat  sat  down  in  the  sand.  "  Thou  art  a  man," 
she  said  scornfully,  "  and  therefore  wise ;  I  am  as 
the  dust  under  thy  feet ;  I  have  no  eyes  to  see 
with,  yet  shall  I  tell  thee  what  shall  come  to  pass. 
Go  down  now  to  our  enemy  whom  the  gods  have 
smitten,  raise  him  up  and  pour  water  into  his 
mouth  and  upon  his  head,  then  when  he  shall 
come  to  himself  say  to  him,  '  Here  now  is  thy 
beast,  I  will  set  thee  upon  it  that  thou  mayest  ride. 
As  for  this  maid  whom  thou  didst  covet,  behold 
she  is  thine ;  I  also  will  run  before  thee.'  "  And 
the  girl  laughed  aloud,  and  tossed  her  head  so 
that  all  the  gold  and  silver  coins  of  her  necklace 
clinked  musically  together. 

Seth  looked  at  her  indignantly.  "  All  women 
have  the  poison  of  asps  under  their  tongues,"  he 
muttered.  "  It  hath  been  told  me,  and  it  is  even 
true,  I  have  seen  men  beat  their  women  for  less ; 
it  purgeth  them  from  folly." 

The  blind  girl  sprang  to  her  feet.  "  Wilt  thou 
beat  me  because  I  have  proved  that  thou  art  the 
fool?"  she  cried,  her  voice  choking  with  rage. 
"Yes,  let  it  be  so,  I  care. not,  but  I  had  thought 
that  thou  wast  not  as  others — that  thou  didst  love 


46  STEPHEN 

me,  blind,  useless,  helpless  though  I  be,"  and  she 
burst  into  a  passion  of  weeping. 

The  lad  was  at  her  side  in  a  moment.  "I  do 
love  thee,"  he  murmured  penitently.  "  I  have  no 
other  on  earth,  thou  art  my  all.  Come!  it  shall  be 
as  thou  hast  said,  here  is  the  beast,  with  such  a 
pretty  saddle,  little  one,  all  of  crimson  velvet,  and 
hung  with  bells  of  silver.  It  is  thine,  the  gods 
have  given  it  thee.  We  will  go  away  towards  the 
first  halting  place,  I  am  sure  that  I  can  find  it." 

Anat  checked  her  sobs  after  a  due  space  ;  she 
even  allowed  herself  to  be  placed  upon  the  back  of 
the  mule.  "  Have  I  the  poison  of  asps  under  my 
tongue?"  she  said  plaintively,  but  with  a  gleam  of 
triumph. 

"  Not  so,  by  Osiris,  I  was  a  brute  to  say  such  a 
thing.  Rather  hast  thou  a  voice  as  sweet  as  the 
voice  of  fountains  and  as  the  voice  of  thrushes  that 
sing  by  the  river.  But  I  shall  place  water  where 
our  enemy  can  drink  when  he  awakens  ;  and  I  will 
not  close  the  stone  altogether,  I  will  leave  a  little 
space  where  the  sun  may  enter  into  that  noisome 
place.  This  shall  be,  shall  it  not,  little  sister  ? " 

Anat  tossed  her  head  ;  she  made  no  reply.  Then 
Seth  made  haste  and  poured  water  into  a  cup  and 
set  it  on  the  step  where  their  enemy  should  see  it 
when  he  awoke ;  he  took  also  from  his  wallet  a 
handful  of  parched  corn  and  laid  it  beside  the  cup. 


IN  THE  ABODE  OF  KINGS.  47 

Looking  sidewise  at  the  man,  who  still  lay  all  along 
on  his  face  just  as  he  had  been  stricken,  he  fancied 
that  he  saw  him  stir  a  little,  and  the  terror  came 
back  upon  him  so  that  he  sprang  up  the  steps  two 
at  a  time,  and  with  a  mighty  effort  drew  the  great 
stone  forward  over  the  opening,  forgetting  in  his 
fear  to  leave  it  open  ever  so  little  that  the  sun 
might  look  in. 

After  that  the  two  fled  away,  their  faces  set 
towards  the  great  and  terrible  wilderness,  beyond 
which  lay  the  land  of  their  hope. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   LORD   OF   THE   SOUTH-LAND. 

ABU  BEN  HESED  was  a  mighty  man  of  war, 
he  was  also  rich.  Ten  score  of  camels,  swift 
dromedaries  not  a  few,  and  horses,  such  that  men 
paid  great  sums  of  gold  to  possess  them  ;  flocks  of 
sheep  and  of  goats ;  wives  also  and  children  in 
plenty ;  all  of  these  things,  together  with  the  un- 
questioning obedience  and  devotion  of  his  tribe, 
did  this  dweller  in  the  desert  call  his  own. 

He  was  a  tall  man,  and  his  beard  descended  upon 
his  breast  in  waves  of  silvery  whiteness.  Yet 
were  his  eyes  as  keen  as  the  eyes  of  a  mountain 
eagle,  and  there  was  no  one  of  all  his  tribe  who 
could  endure  hunger  and  thirst  as  could  Ben  Hesed. 
Not  that  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  so  endure,  for 
was  not  he  lord  of  all  the  land  that  lay  betwixt  the 
mountains  on  the  south  of  the  great  wilderness  of 
Shur,  even  unto  the  sea  ? 

(48) 


THE  LORD  OF  THE  SOUTH-LAND.  49 

"To  satisfy  the  appetite  is  not  always  good,"  he 
was  wont  to  say  to  his  sons.  "  This  will  the  beasts 
do  whenever  they  find  provender.  Man  alone  can 
say  to  himself,  thou  shalt  fast  because  I  have  willed 
it.  Hunger  thus  endured  maketh  man  king  over 
the  beasts ;  thus  is  he  set  apart  from  them,  and  so 
do  his  thoughts  soar  above  the  earth  even  unto  the 
region  of  the  heavens,  where  dwelleth  Ja,  the  maker 
of  the  stars  and  also  of  man." 

On  this  day  Ben  Hesed  sat  alone  in  the  door  of 
his  tent ;  the  sun  was  sinking,  a  ball  of  scarlet  be- 
hind the  purple  rim  of  the  horizon ;  a  group  of 
camels,  browsing  on  the  scanty  desert  growths, 
showed  black  against  its  fiery  glow,  their  shadows 
stretching  long  and  gaunt  across  the  sand.  About 
the  margin  of  a  meagre  pool  close  at  hand  a  cluster 
of  palm  trees  also  meagre  reared  their  heads,  clasp- 
ing their  dusty  fronds  across  the  water  as  if  to  hide 
this  sacred  treasure  of  the  desert  from  the  fierce 
wooing  of  the  sun. 

The  voices  of  the  women,  coming  and  going  with 
their  water-jars,  and  the  laughter  and  cooing  of 
half  a  score  of  naked  brown  babies,  who  lay  con- 
tentedly kicking  up  their  heels  in  the  warm  sand, 
came  pleasantly  to  the  ear  of  Abu  Ben  Hesed. 
He  cared  not  that  the  pool  was  meagre  and  the 
palm  trees  stunted,  this  only  made  them  the  more 
precious  and  wonderful,  more  truly  the  works  of 

4 


So  STEPHEN 

Jehovah,  who  had  set  them  thus  in  the  midst  of 
this  great  and  terrible  wilderness,  like  jewels  of 
price.  He  had  looked  upon  fruitful  lands  and  great 
rivers,  upon  cities  also,  where  men  dwelt  by  hun- 
dreds and  by  thousands,  and  his  soul  had  grown 
sick  within  him  at  the  sight. 

"It  was  not  because  of  their  disobedience  only," 
he  said,  "that  Jehovah  led  the  children  of  Israel 
for  forty  years  in  the  desert,  but  also,  because  far 
from  the  lustful  fat  earth  and  teeming  rivers  and 
the  abominations  of  stone  and  wood  that  men  call 
cities,  he  might  reveal  to  them  himself." 

In  palm-shaded  fountains,  in  the  beauty  of 
night  and  morning,  and  in  the  flowers  which  flour- 
ished in  the  arid  soil  of  the  desert,  he  beheld  the 
love  of  God.  In  the  deep  valleys  and  solemn 
mountain  crests  where  the  seething  primal  rock 
in  some  remote  and  terrible  time  had  gathered 
itself  into  mighty  waves  and  fantastic  pinnacles, 
only  to  stand  still  forever  at  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
he  perceived  his  power,  and  in  the  blinding, 
scorching  whirlwind  of  sand,  before  whose  wither- 
ing breath  nothing  mortal  could  stand,  and  in 
whose  fiery  garments  the  sun  itself  seemed  smoth- 
ered, he  saw  the  wrath  of  Jehovah. 

As  Abu  Ben  Hesed  mused  thus  within  himself, 
he  became  aware  after  a  time  that  a  man  was  com- 
ing swiftly  towards  him  out  of  the  desert,  his  gar- 


THE  LORD  OF  THE  SOUTH-LAND.  51 

ments  girt  about  him.  He  slackened  not  his  pace 
till  he  came  to  the  spot  where  Ben  Hesed  sat  in 
the  door  of  his  tent,  then  he  cast  himself  down 
before  him  and  rent  his  garments  with  a  loud  cry 
of  grief. 

"  Woe  is  me,  my  lord,"  he  cried,  when  he  could 
find  his  breath,  "I  am  the  bearer  of  evil  tidings." 

"Speak,  my  son,"  said  Ben  Hesed,  who  had 
recognized  in  the  man  one  of  his  herdsmen. 
"What  hath  befallen?" 

"Thine  enemy  who  dwells  in  the  south-land  hath 
fallen  upon  the  flocks  this  day  and  hath  carried 
away  of  the  herds  a  goodly  number,  of  she-camels 
also  and  their  foals,  three,  and  of  the  horses,  the 
stallion  Dekar." 

"And  thou  livest  to  tell  me  this,"  said  Ben 
Hesed,  his  eyes  burning  with  anger.  "Why  didst 
thou  not  defend  the  flocks  ?" 

"Woe  is  me!"  repeated  the  man,  casting  the 
dust  upon  his  head.  "  I  have  not  yet  told  the  worst ; 
we  fought  valiantly,  and  thy  son  Eri  is  slain, 
together  with  Kish,  the  herdsman.  When  this 
befell,  we  fled  before  the  face  of  the  enemy ;  the 
flocks  also  and  the  herds  are  scattered  as  the  sand 
of  the  desert  before  the  wind,  and  there  is  nought 
to  hinder  them  from  falling  into  the  hand  of  the 
oppressor." 

Then  Abu  Ben  Hesed  arose  and  rent  his  clothes 


52  STEPHEN 

and  cast  dust  upon  his  head.  "Jehovah  hath 
caused  me  to  be  smitten,"  he  said.  "  Nevertheless 
all  his  ways  are  right  ways.  I  should  have  watched 
for  mine  enemy,  for  he  hath  grown  lusty  and 
flourishing  of  late.  I  will  get  me  after  him  and 
smite  him  till  he  shall  cry  aloud  for  succor.  Jehovah 
grant  me  my  desire  upon  mine  enemy !  Alas  for 
my  son  Eri !  He  hath  been  murderously  cut  down 
in  the  flower  of  his  youth  !  From  the  bright  morn- 
ing of  his  days  he  hath  been  plunged  suddenly  into 
the  night  of  death.  But  behold,  his  blood  crieth  to 
me  for  vengeance  out  of  the  desert.  Let  us  make 
haste!" 

The  terrible  news  spread  throughout  the  encamp- 
ment, withering  the  peaceful  evening  joy,  like  the 
hot  breath  of  a  Sirocco.  The  women  ceased  their 
gay  incessant  chatter  and  broke  into  loud  wailing, 
and  the  frightened  children  wept  with  fear  at  the 
sound. 

"  Alas !  Alas ! "  cried  the  mother  of  the  dead 
man.  "Alas  for  my  son!  He  was  straight  and 
comely  as  a  palm  tree,  beautiful  also,  and  pleasant 
in  his  speech.  Woe  !  Woe  !  He  will  no  more  open 
his  mouth  with  kindness,  nor  will  his  lips  break 
forth  with  singing." 

"Woe!  Woe!"  shrilled  the  other  women,  rock- 
ing to  and  fro,  and  casting  the  ashes  from  the  dying 
fire  upon  their  dishevelled  heads. 


THE  LORD  OF  THE  SOUTH-LAND.  53 

"  Morning  and  evening  hath  he  led  forth  the 
flocks  ! "  moaned  the  mother. 

"  He  will  lead  them  forth  no  more ! "  wailed  her 
companions. 

"Alas  for  the  betrothed  maiden !  She  is  deso- 
late, even  as  a  widow  without  little  ones  hath 
she  become ! " 

''Woe!  Woe!" 

Through  all  the  clamor  of  the  wailing  sounded 
the  clashing  of  weapons  and  the  neighing  of  horses, 
as  the  men  with  set  teeth  and  lowering  brows  made 
ready  for  the  pursuit  of  their  enemy.  Within  the 
hour  they  departed,  a  hundred  strong,  the  swift 
hoofs  of  their  horses  casting  up  the  dust  of  the 
desert  behind  them,  as  they  vanished,  a  war-cloud 
big  with  storm,  into  the  night. 

Before  dawn  Abu  Ben  Hesed  had  seen  his  de- 
sire upon  his  enemy.  They  had  discovered  the 
marauders  as  they  were  making  merry  with  their 
spoil,  and  had  fallen  upon  them  suddenly,  so  that 
they  had  no  time  to  escape. 

The  eyes  of  Ben  Hesed  were  terrible  to  look 
upon  as  he  cut  down  the  flying  wretches. 

"Let  no  one  of  them  escape!"  he  cried  aloud. 
"  Slay  and  spare  not !  " 

Afterward  they  gathered  the  spoil  of  the  dead, 
together  with  their  own  stolen  possessions  and 
turned  their  faces  once  more  toward  the  north. 


54  STEPHEN 

The  heart  of  Ben  Hesed  was  as  lead  within  his 
bosom. 

"After  all,"  he  thought,  "what  doth  it  profit  to 
revenge  oneself  on  an  enemy  ?  My  son  is  not 
restored,  nor  is  my  herdsman.  Yet  it  is  the  law, 
blood  for  blood,  and  the  law  is  good."  He  raised 
his  eyes  wearily,  and  looked  away  toward  the  east, 
where  the  dawn  was  beginning  with  solemn  pomp 
and  splendor.  Long  rays  of  tremulous  light 
flickered  athwart  the  cold,  clear  blue  of  the 
heavens,  the  morning  star  burned  pallid  amidst  the 
growing  radiance,  till  at  last  it  was  swallowed  up 
and  lost  in  the  oncoming  flood  of  day.  Abu  Ben 
Hesed  looked  down  at  his  clothing  and  at  his  hands 
which  were  red  with  the  blood  of  his  enemies.  He 
loathed  himself  at  that  moment. 

"I  see  something  yonder  which  resembles  a 
man,"  said  his  eldest  son,  who  rode  beside  him. 
"Also  a  beast,  lying  down.  What  can  it  be,  think 
you,  my  lord  ?  Another  of  our  enemies  who  hath 
perchance  escaped  us  in  the  darkness  ? " 

Abu  Ben  Hesed  turned  his  eyes  in  the  direction 
to  which  the  man  pointed.  "It  is  death,"  he  said 
quietly.  "The  vultures  are  already  gathering  to 
the  feast." 

"  Nay,  I  have  seen  the  figure  move.  Shall  I  go 
and  see  what  the  thing  may  be?" 

"  Go,  my  son  ;  if  the  man  be  alive,  slay  him  not, 
but  bring  him  to  me  unhurt." 


THE  LORD  OF  THE  SOUTH-LAND.  55 

The  son  of  Abu  obeyed,  drawing  near  the  object 
and  circling  about  it  cautiously  that  he  might  view 
it  from  every  side.  Presently  he  dismounted  and 
walked  quite  up  to  the  thing,  his  horse  following 
at  his  heels,  and  snuffing  at  the  air  suspiciously. 
Two  or  three  great  birds  with  bare  flabby  necks 
and  red  eyes,  rose  slowly  from  the  ground  at  his 
approach  and  flapped  heavily  away,  croaking  dis- 
mally. They  had  been  busy  on  the  carcass  of  a 
mule,  which  lay  dead  upon  the  sand,  its  gay  saddle 
of  crimson  velvet  hung  with  silver  bells,  befouled 
and  draggled.  At  a  little  distance,  and  quite 
motionless,  was  a  heap  of  parti-colored  drapery, 
from  which  protruded  a  slender  brown  foot. 

"A  child!"  said  Ben  Abu.  "Two  of  them," 
he  added  as  he  pulled  aside  the  striped  covering  of 
cotton  cloth  which  concealed  their  faces.  "  Dead 
from  thirst,"  was  his  verdict  after  he  had  turned 
them  over  and  had  noted  with  a  certain  dimness  of 
his  keen  vision,  their  swollen  tongues  and  the  goat- 
skin water  bottle  which  lay  beside  the  lad  quite 
empty. 

Then  he  stood  up  and  blew  a  long  blast  on  the 
ram's  horn  which  he  carried  at  his  girdle. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE   PHARISEE   FROM   TARSUS. 

"/"~\H,  that  Jehovah  would  rend  the  heavens; 
*^-s  that  Israel  might  see  his  righteousness ! 
My  heart  burneth  within  me  as  a  live  coal.  I  can- 
not sleep  because  of  these  things." 

"God  hath  given  thee  this  spirit,  my  son,  be- 
cause of  the  peril  of  his  chosen.  He  shall  greatly 
prosper  the  work  of  thine  hand."  Annas  uttered 
these  words  in  a  low,  smooth  voice,  drawing  his 
long  silvery  beard  through  his  delicate  fingers  and 
looking  keenly  from  under  his  half-closed  eyelids 
at  the  dark,  eager  face  before  him. 

"  If  I  could  only  help  on  the  day  of  his  coming  ! " 
said  the  young  man,  rising  and  pacing  restlessly  up 
and  down  the  floor,  his  hands  clasped  behind  him, 
his  head  sunken  upon  his  breast. 

As  he  walked  thus,  the  eyes  of  the  older  man  fol- 
lowed him  with  a  peculiar  satisfaction.  They 
(56) 


THE  PHARISEE  FROM  TARSUS.  57 

rested  approvingly  on  the  strong  athletic  figure,  on 
the  bent  head  crisped  with  dark  curls,  on  the  stern 
brow  and  fiery  eyes,  and  the  clear,  strongly- cut 
features. 

"  From  my  youth  have  I  been  struggling  to  keep 
the  law  with  this  one  end  in  view !  "  continued  the 
speaker.  "  If  I,  even  I,  might  be  he  who  shall  by 
his  holy  living,  by  the  exact  fulfilling  of  the  law  of 
the  Almighty,  bring  the  Messiah  !  But  the  flesh 
is  weak,  I  know  not  how  I  have  offended.  Of  the 
two  hundred  and  forty-eight  commands  and  the 
three  hundred  and  sixty-five  prohibitions,  I  have 
not  broken  one  knowingly  for  many  days.  But 
there  has  always  been  failure,  a  drop  of  unclean 
water,  perchance,  on  the  dish  from  which  I  have 
eaten,  or  my  robe  has  touched  one  who  is  polluted 
and  I  knew  it  not,  or  I  myself  in  all  my  zeal  have 
omitted  something.  It  must  be  all  or  nothing  in 
the  eyes  of  him  who  is  God  of  gods,  infinite,  un- 
searchable, who  knoweth  all  things.  What  is  man 
that  he  can  please  him  who  sitteth  on  the  circle  of 
the  heavens  ? " 

Annas  smiled  behind  his  hand.  "The  zeal  of 
thine  house  hath  eaten  me  up,"  he  quoted  piously. 
"Truly,  my  son,  it  giveth  me  heartfelt  joy  to  per- 
ceive such  holy  aspirations  in  so  young  a  man. 
Now  do  I  know  that  God  was  with  me  when  I  was 
moved  to  send  for  Saul  of  Tarsus.  As  for  me,  I 


58  STEPHEN 

am  an  old  man.  I  can  no  longer  support  all  the 
rigor  of  the  law,  else  would  my  flesh  fail  me.  '  Be- 
hold to  obey  is  better  than  sacrifice,  and  to  hearken 
than  the  fat  of  rams,'  as  it  is  written  also  in  the 
law." 

"  It  is  that  alone  to  which  I  press  forward — obe- 
dience to  the  law.  Thou  knowest — why  should  I 
even  speak  of  the  matter  to  thee,  my  father,  that  if 
one  person  only  can  for  a  single  day  keep  the  whole 
law  and  not  offend  in  one  point,  nay,  if  but  one  per- 
son could  for  once  perfectly  keep  the  Sabbath  of  the 
Lord  our  God,  then — then  the  Messiah  would  come. 
Then  would  the  Lord  dwell  once  more  among  his 
people  in  visible  form.  Then  would  we  tread  our 
enemies  under  our  feet,  then  would  the  Holy  of 
Holies  be  filled  with  glory  so  that  Jerusalem  should 
shine  as  a  bride  prepared  for  her  husband.  Oh, 
Lord !  when  shall  these  things  be  ?  '  Why  dost 
thou  tarry  ?  Why  is  thy  holy  city  defiled  by  the 
Gentiles  ? ' '  The  speaker  paused  and  lifted  his 
face  as  if  to  listen  for  some  word  from  the  unan- 
swering  heavens. 

The  deep  tones  of  the  old  man  broke  the  silence. 
"These  things  can  never  be  until  Jerusalem  is 
purged  of  the  followers  of  that  blasphemer,  who 
hath  of  late  paid  the  just  penalty  of  his  crimes  on 
the  accursed  tree.  Take  counsel  with  me,  my 
son,  and  I  will  tell  thee  how  thou  shalt  hasten  this 


THE  PHARISEE  FROM  TARSUS.  59 

day  of  which  thou  hast  spoken.  '  With  thine 
eyes  shalt  thou  behold  and  see  the  reward  of  the 
wicked.  The  Lord  will  not  cast  off  his  people, 
neither  will  he  forsake  his  inheritance.'  He 
speaks  to  thee,  my  son,  through  the  words  of  my 
mouth,  listen  therefore,  'Judgment  shall  return 
unto  righteousness,  and  all  the  upright  in  heart 
shall  follow  it.  But  who  will  rise  up  for  me  against 
the  evil  doers  ;  who  will  stand  up  for  me  against  the 
workers  of  iniquity  ?'  " 

"I  will  stand  against  the  workers  of  iniquity," 
answered  the  young  man  solemnly.  "  I  will 
utterly  crush  them  and  cast  them  out,  even  as  did 
Elijah  in  the  day  when  he  slew  the  prophets  of 
Baal  at  the  brook  Kishon." 

"  Upon  thee,  my  son,  hath  the  mantle  of  the 
prophet  fallen,  and  into  thy  hand  will  I  commit 
this  work.  Only  must  thou  submit  thyself  to  my 
direction  in  the  matter,  for  I  know  the  ways  of 
this  people  and  of  this  city  as  thou  dost  not. 
Listen  therefore  while  I  shall  speak  to  thee  of 
what  we  must  accomplish." 

"Speak  !  for  my  spirit  burns  within  me.  I  long 
to  come  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the 
mighty." 

"Thou  hast  well  said  the  mighty,  my  son,  for 
strange  and  terrible  things  have  happened.  Thou 
hast  already  heard  how  that  suddenly  out  of  the 


60  STEPHEN 

hill  country  of  Galilee  there  arose  a  man  called 
Jesus  of  Nazareth.  He  was  a  carpenter,  and  the 
son  of  a  carpenter,  he  wrought  also  at  his  trade 
blamelessly  enough  until  he  was  about  thirty  years 
of  age.  After  that  he  took  to  himself  certain 
men  of  the  baser  sort,  gathered  from  among  ignor- 
ant fisher  folk,  and  even  publicans  ;  these  men  he 
called  his  disciples.  Then  went  he  forth  and 
began  to  teach  strange  and  ungodly  doctrines  to 
the  people.  He  taught  them  that  the  Sabbath 
was  not  to  be  observed  after  the  law,  that  the 
priests  and  rabbis  were  hypocrites ;  yea,  he  even 
said  that  we  were  as  whited  sepulchres,  fair  to  look 
upon,  but  within  full  of  dead  men's  bones  and  all 
uncleanness.  Extortioners  also  he  called  us  and 
unjust."  And  the  speaker's  voice  shook  with 
passion.  "  He  pretended  to  do  wondrous  miracles, 
and  all  manner  of  wild  tales  began  to  fill  the 
mouths  of  the  common  people.  Even  of  our  own 
number  were  led  after  him  certain  ones — Joseph 
of  Arimathea — may  God  smite  him,  and  Nicode- 
mus  also,  so  thou  canst  perceive  the  cunning  of 
the  Evil  One.  He  came  boldly  up  to  Jerusalem 
at  the  time  of  feasts,  he  even  made  pretense  of 
keeping  the  feasts  also  with  his  disciples,  yet  was 
he  always  'j  Determining  the  law  and  teaching 
others  so.  Repeatedly  did  he  heal  on  the  Sab- 
bath day." 


THE  PHARISEE  FROM  TARSUS.  61 

"What  meanest  thou  ?"  said  the  young  man, 
knitting  his  dark  brows.  "  Did  he  heal  then,  of  a 
truth?" 

Annas  hesitated  a  moment,  he  shifted  uneasily 
about  in  his  place.  "Thou  wilt  hear  wondrous 
tales  of  his  doings,"  he  said  at  length,  dropping 
his  eyes  to  the  floor.  "But — "  and  his  voice 
gathered  firmness,  "it  is  all  lies — all  lies.  The 
man  paid  money  to  vile  beggars  to  pretend  that 
they  were  blind  and  halt,  then,  forsooth,  he  loosed 
them  from  their  infirmities." 

"  It  was  reported  in  Tarsus  that  he  had  raised  a 
man  from  the  dead,"  said  Saul,  fixing  his  candid 
dark  eyes  on  the  downcast  face  of  his  companion. 

"  Reported  ? — yes  !  I  also  heard  of  the  marvel. 
The  High  Priest  sent  his  servant,  Malchus,  to  in- 
quire into  the  matter." 

"Why  did  he  not  go  himself?" 

"  What  need?  the  man  was  faithful." 

"  Where  is  this  Malchus  ?  I  should  like  to  speak 
with  him." 

Annas  looked  alarmed.  "The  man  hath  died 
since,"  he  said,  frowning. 

"  What  said  he  of  the  matter  ? " 

"  What  could  an  honest  man  say  ? "  replied  Annas 
with  a  crafty  smile.  "  Can  a  carpenter  build  anew 
the  life  which  God  hath  taken  out  of  a  man  ?  But 
I  have  not  told  thee  all.  This  carpenter  also  de- 
clared that  he  was  the  Messiah." 


62  STEPHEN 

There  was  silence  in  the  room  for  a  moment, 
broken  only  by  the  quickened  breathing  of  the 
young  man. 

"He  said  further  in  the  presence  of  the  holy 
Council  of  the  Sanhedrim  that  he  was  the  Son  of 
God,  the  King  of  Israel,  and  that  hereafter  he 
would  come  in  the  clouds  of  heaven  to  judge  the 
earth." 

Saul  of  Tarsus  sprang  to  his  feet,  lightnings 
played  within  his  eyes.  "  Blasphemer !  "  he  cried 
in  a  choked  voice.  "  Why  did  not  Jehovah  smite 
him  to  the  earth  ? " 

"Jehovah  did  smite  him  by  the  hand  of  his  serv- 
ants ;  not  many  hours  after  he  had  uttered  those 
sayings  he  died  the  accursed  death— But  hark !  I 
hear  a  sound  of  turmoil ;  what  hath  befallen  ?  Alas 
for  Jerusalem !  she  is  sorely  vexed  by  the  heathen 
within  her  gates.  Ever  and  anon  the  Roman 
soldiers  smite  the  inhabitants  and  there  is  the  clash 
of  weapons  and  the  shedding  of  blood  even  at  the 
very  gates  of  the  temple." 

His  companion  glanced  out  of  the  window.  "The 
people  are  running  from  every  direction,"  he  said 
eagerly.  "  Let  us  see  what  hath  happened." 

"  Go  thou,  my  son.  I  must  needs  sanctify  my- 
self for  the  temple  service." 

Descending  into  the  street  and  following  the 
steps  of  the  hurrying  stragglers,  the  young  man 


THE  PHARISEE  FROM  TARSUS.  63 

soon  found  himself  in  the  meaner  and  more 
crowded  portions  of  the  city.  Here  the  narrow 
streets  were  choked  with  people,  all  running,  push- 
ing, struggling  towards  a  common  centre. 

The  Pharisee  of  Tarsus  shrank  back  with  disgust 
into  the  doorway  of  a  synagogue  near  at  hand,  and 
from  this  coign  of  vantage  looked  forth  on  the 
crowd.  The  white  turbans  of  Jewish  rabbis,  the 
red-bronze  faces  of  Egyptian  camel  drivers,  and  the 
gay  robes  of  Asiatic  merchants  all  mingled  in  the 
shifting  mazes  of  the  multitude.  A  jargon  of 
tongues  also,  like  the  buzzing  of  a  gigantic  swarm 
of  bees,  filled  the  air.  From  somewhere  not  far 
away,  he  could  hear  the  loud  tones  of  a  man's  voice, 
rising  and  falling  as  if  in  passionate  exhortation. 

"  What  hath  befallen  ? "  he  asked  at  length  of 
a  man  dressed  in  the  garb  of  a  Greek  sailor,  who, 
like  himself,  had  sought  refuge  in  the  doorway  of 
the  synagogue. 

"  Fire  from  heaven  hath  fallen  on  the  followers 
of  the  Nazarene,"  replied  the  man,  without  look- 
ing around. 

"  Dost  thou  mean  the  followers  of  the  man  called 
Jesus,  who  hath  lately  perished  on  the  cross  ? " 
said  Saul,  regardless  for  once  of  the  defilement 
which  he  brought  upon  himself  by  speaking  with 
this  Gentile. 

"  The  same,"  replied  the  Greek,  glancing  care- 


64  STEPHEN 

lessly  at  his  questioner.  "  The  man  Jesus  was  a 
worker  of  miracles.  He  revived  after  being  buried 
three  days,  and  went  up  bodily  to  dwell  with  the 
God  of  the  Jews." 

"Dog  of  a  Gentile,"  cried  Saul  angrily,  "thou 
art  accursed  because  thou  art  a  Gentile,  but  doubly 
accursed  because  thou  hast  also  blasphemed." 

The  Greek  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  Do  I  care 
for  thee,  Jew  ? "  he  said,  showing  his  white  teeth 
in  a  wicked  laugh.  "  Thou  also  art  accursed,  and 
thy  temple  shall  be  torn  down,  so  that  not  one 
stone  shall  stand  upon  another.  I  heard  the 
Nazarene  say  it,  and,  by  Bacchus,  I  believe  it." 

"  Thou  shalt  be  scourged,  fellow,  and  thy  scur- 
rilous tongue  cut  from  thy  head,"  hissed  Saul 
between  his  shut  teeth.  "  I  am  a  Roman,  and  I 
will  see  to  it." 

At  this  the  man  turned  pale,  for  all  his  swarthy 
skin.  With  a  sudden,  quick  movement,  he  snatched 
his  garments  from  the  grasp  of  the  Pharisee  and 
fled  away  into  the  crowd,  doubling  and  twisting 
under  the  arms  and  betwixt  the  legs  of  the  half- 
naked  barbarians  till  he  was  lost  to  view. 

Saul  looked  after  him  for  a  moment  in  speech- 
less rage. 

"Thou  art  a  stranger,  then,  in  Jerusalem,"  said 
a  voice  at  his  side,  "and  knowest  not  what  wonders 
have  come  upon  the  Holy  City — wonders  and 
terrors  also." 


THE  PHARISEE  FROM  TARSUS.  65 

The  young  Pharisee  turned  and  looked  at  the 
speaker.  He  was  a  Jew,  and  wore  a  broad  phy- 
lactery upon  his  arm.  "  I  have  heard  all,"  he  said 
shortly.  "But  what  hath  befallen  the  followers 
of  the  man  ?  The  knave  yonder  said  that  fire 
from  heaven  had  fallen  upon  them ;  I  hope  that 
they  be  burned  to  ashes,  as  were  the  dwellers  in 
Sodom." 

"They  are  unharmed,"  said  the  newcomer 
gravely.  "  If,  indeed,  fire  hath  fallen  upon  them, 
.it  was  a  fire  that  enlightened  their  understanding, 
for  even  now  they  are  preaching  to  the  people  of 
the  risen  Galilean,  so  that  of  all  these  foreigners 
every  man  hears  in  his  own  tongue." 

"Nay,  son  of  Abraham,"  cried  another  voice, 
"  the  men  are  drunken  with  new  wine,  and  babble 
as  is  the  custom  of  wine-bibbers  and  gluttons." 

Saul  recognized  in  the  speaker  one  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Sanhedrim.  "  Why  then  do  ye,  who 
are  in  authority,  suffer  such  unseemly  conduct  in 
these  men  ?  Why  not  deal  with  them  also  as  thou 
hast  dealt  with  their  Master?" 

"  Thou  art  zealous,"  said  the  other  in  a  low 
voice,  and  with  a  gesture  of  caution.  "  Yet  would 
such  measures  be  untimely.  This,"  indicating  the 
mixed  multitude  with  a  contemptuous  wave  of  his 
hand,  "is  a  beast,  which  hath  not  been  tamed 
either  by  the  church  nor  yet  by  the  Romans. 


66  STEPHEN 

When  it  hath  tired  of  these  babblers  it  will  rend 
them,  even  as  it  rent  the  Nazarene,  for  it  was  this 
very  multitude  that  shrieked,  'Crucify  him  !  crucify 
him  ! '  for  the  space  of  three  hours.  Come,  let  us 
be  going.  We  defile  ourselves  by  remaining  in 
this  place." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

A   BELIEVER    IN   THE    NAZARENE. 

"  T  F  only  I  had  been  there,  perchance  upon  even 

1  me  might  a  little  of  the  blessing  have  fallen. 
And  yet,  was  it  not  by  the  mercy  of  the  all-seeing 
One  that  I  was  chained  to  the  side  of  him  who 
slew  Jesus  ?  We  are  one  flesh,  as  it  is  written  in 
the  law;  if  he  is  accursed,  I  also  am  accursed." 

"  Knowest  thou  our  Lord  so  little  that  thou  dost 
believe  what  thou  hast  said  ? "  said  Stephen,  a 
smile  dawning  in  his  dark  eyes. 

The  wife  of  Caiaphas  wiped  away  one  or  two 
slow  tears.  "  How  can  I  know  him  ? "  she  asked 
bitterly. 

"Once  when  Jesus  was  upon  earth,"  said 
Stephen,  looking  away  towards  Calvary,  which 
they  could  see  plainly  from  their  breezy  nook  on 
the  terrace,  "  he  said  this — I  did  not  hear  it — but 
John,  whom  Jesus  called  the  beloved  ;  one  of  the 

(67) 


68  STEPHEN 

disciples,  had  asked  the  Master  how  they  should 
pray,  and  he  told  them  the  very  words  they  might 
use  acceptably ;  but  he  also  said,  If  thou  hast 
desires  bring  them  to  the  Father.  He  will  give  to 
thee  even  as  an  earthly  father,  and  much  more  ;  if 
a  child  should  come  to  his  father  and  ask  for  bread 
will  that  father  offer  him  a  stone  ?  or  if  he  crave 
fish,  will  he  thrust  a  deadly  scorpion  into  his  hand  ? 
How  much  more  then  will  your  heavenly  Father 
give  his  spirit  to  them  that  ask  him.  It  was 
because  we  asked  that  it  was  given.  Thou  also 
shalt  ask  and  shalt  receive." 

"  Wilt  thou  tell  me  about  it  ? "  said  Anna,  in 
a  low  voice,  fixing  her  eyes  wistfully  upon  the 
speaker. 

He  was  no  longer  a  lad,  she  could  see  it ;  the 
awful  experiences  through  which  his  soul  had 
passed  had  swept  him  suddenly  and  forever  away 
from  childhood.  His  child  nature  had  been  cruci- 
fied with  those  whom  he  loved,  and  upon  his  face 
there  had  come  a  look  such  as  the  strong  young 
angels  wear  who  wait  in  the  presence  of  the 
Almighty  to  do  his  pleasure. 

"We  were  together  in  the  upper  room,"  said 
Stephen,  after  a  little  silence,  "  the  disciples,  the 
mother  of  Jesus,  and  all  the  others.  After  we 
had  eaten  of  the  bread  and  drunken  of  the  wine- 
as  also  he  commanded  to  do  in  remembrance  of 


A  BELIEVER  IN  THE  NAZARENE.          69 

his  death — we  continued  in  prayer,  sometimes 
spoken,  sometimes  in  silence — for  there  is  no  need 
to  speak  aloud  to  reach  him  who  is  '  with  us  alway 
even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.'  He  was  there, 
though  we  could  not  see  him.  All  of  us  knew  it ; 
and  we  asked  him  for  the  fulfilment  of  his  last 
promise — the  Spirit,  that  we  being  weak,  might 
receive  power  to  be  his  witnesses  before  men. 
John  the  beloved  spoke  to  him,  after  that  there 
was  silence  for  a  brief  space,  then  on  a  sudden 
there  came  a  sound,  faint  at  first,  but  growing 
louder  by  degrees  till  it  filled  all  the  place.  It  was 
like  nothing  I  have  heard  upon  earth,  and  yet  was 
it  most  like  the  sound  of  the  viewless  wind  when 
it  rushes  through  the  thick  forest.  But  it  was  not 
wind.  I  knelt  at  the  side  of  the  Lord's  mother, 
my  eyes  were  upon  her  at  the  moment,  and  the 
light  tresses  that  fell  about  her  forehead  did  not  so 
much  as  stir." 

"Was  that  all?"  whispered  Anna,  leaning  for- 
ward and  clasping  her  hands. 

"As  I  kept  my  eyes  fixed  upon  Mary,"  contin- 
ued Stephen — "for  it  seemed  to  me  that  she  was 
looking  at  Him — I  saw  form  in  the  air  above  her 
head  a  tremulous  light,  it  wavered  and  brightened 
till  it  had  the  look  of  a  cloven  tongue  of  flame.  As 
I  feared  and  trembled  greatly  at  the  sight,  on  a 
sudden  a  voice  cried  out,  'The  promise  hath  been 


70  STEPHEN 

fulfilled  unto  us!'  Then  did  I  see  that  upon  every 
head  hovered  the  heavenly  fire." 

"And  then?" 

"And  then,"  cried  the  young  man,  a  great  joy 
in  the  solemn  tones  of  his  voice,  "all  things  were 
made  clear  to  us.  We  knew  what  the  Lord  meant 
when  he  said  '  Ye  shall  be  witnesses  unto  me  both 
in  Jerusalem,  and  in  all  Judea,  and  in  Samaria,  and 
unto  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth.1  We  were  no 
longer  filled  with  fear,  thinking  only  how  to  escape 
the  hands  of  them  that  had  murdered  our  Lord — 
nay,  rather,  that  in  the  infinite  and  unsearchable 
knowledge  and  wisdom  of  the  Father  had  lifted 
him  up  upon  the  cross  to  be  a  light  unto  the 
world.  We  rushed  out  into  the  street,  and  the 
Spirit  also  drew  together  out  of  all  the  city  devout 
men  from  every  nation  under  heaven.  They  gath- 
ered in  a  great  multitude  that  they  might  hear  of 
the  Saviour,  not  of  the  Jews  only,  but  of  the 
world." 

"How,  then,  could  they  understand?"  asked 
Anna,  her  worn  face  reflecting  the  glow  upon  the 
face  of  the  young  man,  as  the  mountain  top  clad 
in  its  pallor  of  eternal  snow  reflects  the  radiance 
of  the  dawn. 

"  WKat  is  the  weakness  of  mortal  understanding 
when  the  eternal  God  sheds  upon  it  h*is  spirit  of 
might  ?  Did  he  not  make  the  tongue  of  the 


A  BELIEVER  IN  THE  NAZARENE.          71 

Asiatic  as  well  as  the  tongue  of  the  Greek ;  the 
tongues  of  the  Parthians,  Medes,  and  Elamites 
also,  as  well  as  the  tongue  of  the  Hebrews  ? 
Are  not  all  languages  understood  by  him  ?  He 
spake  through  us,  and  behold,  every  man  heard 
the  message  in  his  own  language.  After  that  did 
Peter  speak  unto  the  people,  and  he  mightily  con- 
vinced them,  so  that  many  cried  out,  'What  shall 
we  do?'  'Repent  and  be  baptized,'  he  answered 
them,  'every  one  of  you,  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  the 
Christ,  for  the  remission  of  sins,  and  ye  shall  re- 
ceive the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  For  the  promise 
is  unto  you,  and  to  your  children,  and  to  all  that 
are  afar  off.' " 

"Said  he  this  to  the  Gentiles?"  asked  Anna,  in 
amaze. 

Stephen  looked  troubled.  "Nay,"  he  said,  "I 
know  not  if  they  were  Gentiles,  they  had  by  inherit- 
ance a  part  in  the  blessing,  even  as  I  had  through 
my  mother ;  but  of  a  surety  God  created  all  men. 
It  will  be  made  plain  to  us,"  he  added,  after  a 
pause,  a  smile  of  heavenly  sweetness  touching  his 
lips. 

"And  who  is  it  that  the  wife  of  the  High  Priest 
honors  thus  with  her  hospitality?"  broke  in  a 
sneering  voice. 

Anna  started  up  with  a  faint  cry,  her  eyes  fixed 
with  manifest  terror  on  the  gaunt  figure  that  stood 
before  them. 


72  STEPHEN 

"Ah  !  thou  dost  not  answer.  Didst  thou  think, 
then,  that  I  should  remain  chained  to  my  couch 
forever  ?  I  am  minded  to  see  what  is  passing  in 
my  house.  It  is  time." 

"Do  not  stand,"  gasped  Anna.  "Thou  art  not 
strong.  I  thought  that  thou  wast  asleep." 

"Time  hasteneth  with  rapid  foot  when  a  lady 
entertains  so  comely  a  young  man,"  said  the  High 
Priest  with  a  terrible  gentleness.  "Once  more  I 
ask  of  thee,  who  is  thy  guest  ? " 

Stephen  had  risen  to  his  feet  and  was  looking 
with  troubled  eyes  into  the  face  of  her  whom  he 
had  learned  to  love  almost  as  a  mother.  He 
waited  for  her  to  speak.  Her  lips  moved,  but  no 
sound  came  from  them.  He  turned  and  fixed  his 
eyes  upon  the  man.  "  I  know  not  who  thou  art," 
he  said  in  a  clear  voice,  "  nor  why  thou  dost  ques- 
tion this  beloved  lady  so  harshly,  but  I  can  answer 
for  myself.  My  name  is  Stephen." 

The  High  Priest  took  a  step  forward ;  he  did  not 
speak,  but  death  looked  out  from  his  eyes. 

"  Go  !  Go  !  "  whispered  Anna,  turning  her  white 
face  upon  the  young  man.  "  Thou  dost  not  under- 
stand, but  go  ! — I  beseech  thee." 

"  Nay,  I  will  not  go  till  I  am  assured  of  thy  safety. 
Who,  and  what  manner  of  man  is  this  ? " 

The  smouldering  fire  in  the  eyes  of  Caiaphas 
leapt  up  into  a  lurid  blaze.  "  Dost  thou,  the  mur- 


A  BELIEVER  IN  THE  NAZ4REXE.          73 

derer  of  my  son,  defy  me  in  mine  own  house  ?  "  he 
cried  in  a  choked  voice.  "Because  thou  art  in 
mine  house,  I  will  not  kill  thee,  but — "  and  his 
voice  died  away  into  a  silence  more  terrible  than 
speech. 

"  Go  ! "  repeated  Anna  imploringly. 

But  Stephen  did  not  appear  to  have  heard. 
"What  dost  thou  mean? "  he  said,  his  voice  full  of 
horror.  "Thou  hast  called  me  a  murderer !  " 

The  High  Priest  looked  at  him  contemptu- 
ously. "Son  of  a  malefactor,  dost  thou  not  know 
that  upon  thy  head  rests  the  blood-guilt  of  thy 
father?" 

"No!"  thundered  Stephen,  his  eyes  blazing. 
"The  fire  of  God  could  not  rest  upon  a  head 
whereon  is  also  blood-guilt.  I  am  innocent ;  God 
hath  witnessed  it." 

"Accursed  murderer  and  blasphemer!"  hissed 
Caiaphas.  "Get  thee  hence,  or  not  even  the 
sacred  law  of  hospitality  shall  refrain  my  hand 
from  thy  throat."  Then  he  sank  trembling  onto  a 
bench. 

True  to  her  wifely  instincts,  Anna  sprang  to 
help  him,  but  he  put  her  away  roughly.  "  Stand 
before  me,  woman,"  he  said,  fixing  his  savage  eyes 
upon  her.  "  Thou  shalt  answer  me  somewhat  that 
I  shall  ask  of  thee.  Now  that  the  murderer  of  thy 
son  hath  rid  us  of  his  presence  thou  canst  perhaps 


74  STEPHEN 

attend  to  what  I  shall  say."  Anna  stood  before 
him,  motionless  and  rigid,  her  eyes  wide  with  an 
unnatural  calm  fixed  upon  his  face.  "  Hast  thou 
known  who  and  what  this  young  man  is  before 
to-day  ? " 

"Yes." 

"Hast  thou  before  received  him  into  my 
house  ? " 

"Yes." 

"  Is  he  a  follower  of  the  accursed  Nazarene  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"Art — thou — also  one  of  his  believers?" 

A  change  swept  over  the  marble  features  of  the 
woman,  she  lifted  her  face,  a  mysterious  light  from 
above  seemed  to  shine  upon  it. 

"  I  am,"  she  said  simply,  but  in  those  two  words 
there  sounded  a  very  pean  of  triumph. 

"  Flesh  of  my  flesh  and  bone  of  my  bone,"  said 
Caiaphas  in  a  low  measured  voice,  "thou  art 
anathema.  As  I  would  cut  off  my  right  hand 
should  it  become  polluted  beyond  cleansing,  so 
also  will  I  sever  thee  from  my  life.  Get  thee 
hence  unto  thine  own ;  thou  hast  no  longer  part 
nor  lot  with  me  from  henceforth  and  even  forever. 
And  so  let  it  be." 

The  woman  looked  dumbly  into  the  pitiless  face 
of  the  man  before  her ;  her  slight  figure  swayed  a 
little,  then  noiselessly  as  a  snow  wreath  she  fell 


A  BELIE  VER  IN  THE  NAZARENE.          75 

forward  and  lay  prone  upon  the  marble  pavement 
at  his  feet. 

The  man  stared  at  the  silent  figure  ;  he  did  not 
touch  it.  After  a  time  he  arose  and  walked  heav- 
ily away  without  once  looking  behind  him. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

IN   THE   DESERT   ENCAMPMENT. 

"  HPHOU  mayest  fetch  the  lad  and  the  maiden  and 

1  set  them  in  my  presence.  I  would  question 
them  of  this  thing." 

The  woman  bowed  herself  humbly  before  her 
lord  and  retired ;  presently  she  returned,  leading 
by  the  hand  a  slight  figure  clad  in  the  shapeless 
blue  gown  of  an  Egyptian  peasant  girl.  Behind 
lagged  with  unwilling  feet  a  half-grown  lad. 

Abu  Ben  Hesed  fixed  his  piercing  eyes  upon  the 
twain.  "Thou  mayest  go  till  I  shall  call  thee,"  he 
said  to  the  woman.  She  lingered  yet  a  moment  to 
whisper,  "The  maid  is  blind,  my  lord  ! " 

"  Come  hither,  my  son,"  said  Ben  Hesed  after  a 
short  survey  of  his  two  guests,  "  and  tell  me  how  it 
befell  that  thou  wast  in  the  desert  alone  ?  Didst 
thou  know,"  he  added  somewhat  severely,  "that 
thou  wast  brought  to  the  borders  of  the  encamp- 
(76) 


IN  THE  DESERT  ENCAMPMENT.  77 

ment  only  that  thou  mightest  be  buried  safe  from 
the  vultures  ?  Had  not  one  of  the  women  discerned 
signs  of  life,  when  no  other  eye  could  see  it,  thou 
wouldst  even  now  be  sleeping  beneath  the  sand." 

The  boy  shuddered  slightly ;  he  opened  his  lips 
as  though  to  speak,  but  the  girl  broke  out  im- 
petuously : 

"  I  alone  am  in  fault,"  she  cried.  "  It  was  I  who 
would  not  listen  to  my  brother  when  he  said,  '  we 
shall  perish  by  the  way  if  we  go  forth  into  the 
wilderness.'  It  is  true,"  she  continued,  turning  to 
the  lad,  "folly  dwelleth  in  the  heart  of  a  woman. 
I  am  minded  to  let  thee  beat  me.  I  have  de- 
served it." 

Abu  Ben  Hesed  smiled  in  the  midst  of  his  great 
beard,  but  the  smile  looked  also  out  of  his  eyes,  so 
that  the  lad  was  emboldened  to  speak. 

"We  fled  before  the  face  of  an  enemy,"  he  said, 
looking  squarely  into  the  bright  eyes  of  the  man 
before  him.  "  He  would  have  made  slaves  of  us  in 
the  city;  death  in  the  wilderness  is  better." 

"  Thou  hast  spoken  a  word  of  wisdom  when  thou 
hast  so  said,  my  son,"  cried  Ben  Hesed,  his  eyes 
flashing.  "And  who  is  it  that  would  have  caged 
the  wild  eaglets  of  the  desert  ? " 

"I  know  not,"  replied  the  lad.  "I  saw  not  the 
man,  I  only  heard  him  speak.  We  were  hidden  in 
the  abiding  place  of  the  dead  ;  he  would  have  shut 


7  8  STEPHEN 

us  up  there  to  perish,  but  Sechet  smote  him  in  the 
act  and  we  left  him  on  his  face  in  the  sand." 

"Thou  art  Egyptian,"  said  Ben  Hesed  after  a 
pause.  "  How  comes  it  that  thou  canst  speak  the 
tongue  of  the  desert  ? " 

"  It  was  my  mother's  language ;  my  father  was  a 
Greek." 

"  Where  then  are  thy  parents  ? " 

"  Dead,  many  years  dead,"  said  the  boy  looking 
down,  and  digging  his  bare  toes  into  the  hot  sand. 
A  single  tear  rolled  swiftly  down  his  brown  cheek. 

Ben  Hesed  saw  it,  his  keen  eyes  softened.  "  No 
longer  shalt  thou  look  for  a  place  to  bide  in  safety 
from  thine  enemy,"  he  said  gently.  "  Where  else 
should  the  young  eaglets  fly  but  to  the  nest  of  their 
kind  ?  Thou  art  safe  here,  my  children." 

"  Thou  art  good,"  replied  the  lad  simply ;  "  but — 
my  sister  is  blind." 

"  I  am  not  ignorant  of  that,  my  son,"  said  Ben 
Hesed  with  a  stately  inclination  of  his  head. 
"There  is  no  need  that  she  labor  with  her  hands. 
Plenty  dwells  within  the  borders  of  my  land, 
though  it  be  not  the  plenty  of  Egypt ;  there  is  no 
lack  of  either  flesh  nor  bread,  nor  yet  of  the  milk 
of  many  herds.  Thou  art  strong,  son,  and  thou 
shalt  labor  as  becomes  a  man ;  the  maid  shall 
dwell  with  the  women.  Go  now  in  peace,  and 
think  of  thy  past  distresses  no  more,"  and  he 
waved  his  hand  in  token  of  dismissal. 


IN  THE  DESERT  ENCAMPMENT.  79 

"Come,  Anat,"  said  the  lad,  drawing  her  gently 
away.  "  It  is  impossible  for  us  to  repay  tttee  thy 
goodness,"  he  added,  lingering  wistfully.  Yet  — " 

"There  is  no  need,"  said  Ben  Hesed,  a  slight 
shade  of  impatience  in  his  tone.  "  Go  now,  my 
son  will  tell  thee  of  thy  duties." 

"  Nay,  brother,  do  not  hold  me,  I  must  tell  him," 
cried  Anat.  "We  cannot  remain  here." 

"How  now,  damsel,  art  thou  not  satisfied  with 
what  thou  hast  received  at  my  hands  ?"  and  Ben 
Hesed  drew  his  bushy  brows  together  with  the 
look  before  which  his  wives,  his  children  and  his 
tribe  were  wont  to  tremble. 

Seth  also  trembled.  "  I  pray  thee,  my  lord,"  he 
said,  instinctively  bowing  himself  almost  to  the 
ground,  "  that  thou  wilt  not  deal  harshly  with  the 
maid,  my  sister.  She  is  blind,  and  we  were  seek- 
ing a  great  magician  who  can  heal  blindness  by  a 
word.  Thou  knowest  that  it  is  an  evil  thing  not 
to  look  upon  the  sun,  and  upon  the  stars,  and  upon 
the  faces  of  one's  kind." 

Ben  Hesed  was  silent  for  a  moment.  He  looked 
keenly  into  the  lad's  flushed  face.  "  It  is  in  Egypt 
that  the  magicians  dwell,"  he  said  at  length.  "  Hast 
thou  not  heard  how  Moses,  the  mighty  man  of 
God,  fetched  out  the  Israelites  with  a  strong  hand 
from  among  the  Egyptians;  how  he  worked  mar- 
vels also  and  great  plagues  with  the  rod  of  God, 


8o  STEPHEN 

and  the  magicians  of  Egypt  did  so  with  their  en- 
chantments, save  certain  things  which  they  could 
not  do?" 

"  I  know  not  Moses,"  said  the  boy,  shaking  his 
head.  "  Though  I  have  heard  many  marvels  of 
the  great  gods  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans  also. 
Yet  is  there  no  magician  in  Egypt  who  can  cure 
blindness,  for  the  land  is  full  of  it." 

"  And  wherefore  didst  thou  look  for  this  magi- 
cian in  the  wilderness  ?" 

"  The  man  said  that  he  dwelt  beyond  the  wilder- 
ness and  that  his  name  was  Jesus,"  said  Anat  in 
her  low,  sweet  voice.  "  I  have  not  forgotten  the 
name,  Jesus.  He  healed  the  man,  he  will  also 
heal  me  if  only  I  can  find  him." 

Ben  Hesed  fingered  his  beard  for  a  time  in 
silence.  "  What  manner  of  man  was  he  that  told 
thee  of  this  thing  ?"  he  said  at  length. 

"  He  came  out  of  the  desert  on  a  swift  drome- 
dary," replied  Seth.  "  He  was  of  great  stature  and 
his  beard  descended  upon  his  breast.  I  gave  him 
to  drink  of  my  goat-skin.  He  said,  moreover,  that 
the  magician  dwelt  at  Jerusalem." 

"A  year  ago  I  went  up  to  the  Holy  City,"  said 
Ben  Hesed,  "that  I  might  offer  sacrifices  in  the 
temple.  I  care  not  to  go  again.  God  is  a  God  of 
the  wilderness ;  he  answers  also  in  the  wilderness. 
Of  the  rocks  of  the  desert  have  I  builded  me  an 


IN  THE  DESERT  ENCAMPMENT.  81 

altar,  even  as  did  Abraham  in  the  days  of  old. 
Jerusalem  is  desolate  and  her  holy  places  are 
waste.  Why  should  I  go  any  more  into  a  temple 
which  is  daily  defiled  by  the  feet  of  wicked  men  ?" 
The  voice  of  the  speaker  shook  with  passion  as  he 
said  the  last  words.  Then  his  head  dropped  upon 
his  breast  and  his  lips  moved,  though  no  sound 
came  from  them.  The  children  waited  before  him 
in  silence,  not  daring  to  move. 

After  what  seemed  to  her  a  long  time,  Anat 
allowed  a  long-drawn  sigh  to  escape  her,  by  way  of 
a  delicate  reminder  of  their  presence.  "Thou 
wast  in  Jerusalem?"  she  ventured  timidly. 

Ben  Hesed  looked  up ;  something  in  the  flower- 
like  beauty  and  innocence  of  the  child-face,  guarded 
by  its  pathetic,  unseeing  eyes,  moved  him  strangely. 
The  gloom  lifted  from  his  brow. 

"I  was  in  Jerusalem,"  he  said  gravely,  "and  1 
saw  this  man  Jesus  with  mine  own  eyes." 

Anat  clasped  her  hands  joyfully.  "Ah !  then  thou 
canst  tell  us  of  him.  Dost  thou  think  that  he 
would  heal  me  ?  I  have  no  money  nor  treasure  to 
give  him,  except  this,"  and  she  laid  her  fingers  on 
the  necklace  of  coins. 

"  He  would  not  ask  thee  for  treasure,  my  child," 

said  Ben  Hesed,  "for  I  saw  him  heal  a  beggar, 

who  lay  upon  his  bed  unable  to  move,  and  the  man 

gave  him  no  reward.     I  came  away  from  Jerusalem 

6 


82  STEPHEN 

in  that  same  hour  and  saw  him  no  more.  I  have 
thought  since  that  sometime  I  will  again  seek  for 
him,  though  I  need  not  to  be  healed." 

"  It  is  a  good  word  that  thou  hast  given  to  us," 
said  Anat  in  a  tone  of  joyful  conviction  ;  "and  now 
wilt  thou  further  give  a  handful  of  parched  corn 
that  we  may  eat  by  the  way.  My  brother  will  fill 
the  goat-skin  with  water,  and  we  will  depart." 

"  Art  thou  not  afraid  of  the  vultures,  little  one  ? " 
asked  Ben  Hesed  with  a  grave  smile.  "  And  how 
will  the  flint  of  the  desert  bruise  those  tender  feet 
of  thine  now  that  thy  beast  is  dead." 

Seth  looked  depressed.  "  We  cannot  go,"  he 
said  at  length,  "my  goat-skin  is  not  sufficient,  and 
we  do  not  know  the  way." 

"  Nay,  but  we  must  go ! "  cried  Anat  impetu- 
ously. "  I  care  not  for  the  vultures,  and  we  have 
already  come  a  great  distance.  Did  I  whine  or 
complain  when  we  thirsted  ? " 

"  Thou  didst  not ;  but  could  I  bear  again  to  see 
thee  sink  to  the  earth,  thy  tongue  like  a  parched 
leaf  within  thy  mouth  ?  And  the  vultures — thou 
couldst  not  see  them,  but  it  was  horrible — horri- 
ble !  They  stared  at  us  with  their  red  eyes,  they 
waited  for  us  to  die.  I  kept  up  as  long  as  I  was 
able  and  drove  them  away,  then  did  I  call  aloud 
upon  the  god  of  the  land  to  save  us  ;  after  that  I 
hid  our  faces,  and  waited  for  Anubis  to  take  us." 


IN  THE  DESERT  ENCAMPMENT.  83 

"The  God  of  the  land  heard  thee,  boy,"  said 
Ben  Hesed  solemnly,  "for  he  is  not  a  god  like  to 
the  gods  of  the  Egyptians.  He  saved  thee,  even 
as  he  saved  the  child  Ishmael,  whom  Abraham 
cast  forth  into  the  desert  to  die.  In  the  desert 
also  did  the  child  Ishmael  remain  ;  and  God  made 
out  of  him  a  great  nation  which  hath  ruled  over 
the  wilderness  until  this  day.  Ay  !  and  shall  rule 
as  long  as  the  desert  itself  remains,  for  his  word 
is  from  everlasting  to  everlasting.  Listen  now  to 
what  I  shall  say  unto  thee :  thou  shalt  go  in  search 
of  this  man  Jesus,  for  I  believe  that  he  is  able  to  do 
this  thing  whereof  thou  hast  spoken.  I  will  send 
thee  to  the  borders  of  Judaea  with  food  and  water 
and  beasts  of  burden  also,  that  ye  perish  not  by 
the  way  ;  after  that  shall  ye  with  ease  find  Jerusa- 
lem, for  the  way  is  not  long  and  the  land  is  fertile. 
Enter  freely  into  the  villages  and  ask  for  bread, 
the  inhabitants  will  not  say  thee  nay.  And  when 
the  maid  shall  be  healed  of  her  blindness,  per- 
chance thou  wilt  again  remember  the  wilderness  ; 
return  if  thou  wilt.  To-morrow  shalt  thou  set 
forth." 

"I  will  return,  my  lord,"  said  the  lad,  "and  by 
all  the  gods  of  the  sacred  Nile,  I  swear  unto  thee 
that  hereafter  I  will  serve  thee  as  a  bondman  dur- 
ing the  years  of  my  life — if  it  be  thy  will ;  because 
thou  hast  saved  us  from  death,  and  because  of  all 
thy  goodness  unto  us." 


84  STEPHEN 

"  Nay,  rather,  thou  shalt  be  to  me  in  the  place 
of  my  son  Eri,  whom  God  hath  taken  from  me," 
said  Ben  Hesed.  "Go  now  in  peace,  and  rest 
until  the  morning." 

So  the  two  were  feasted  that  night,  because  that 
they  had  found  favor  in  the  eyes  of  Ben  Hesed. 
And  afterward  they  slept  soundly  in  the  tent  of 
goat's  hair,  beneath  the  striped  blanket  with  which 
they  had  hidden  themselves  from  the  fierce  eyes  of 
vultures.  And  Seth  dreamed  that  he  had  grown 
to  be  a  man,  and  that  he  was  riding  upon  a  swift 
horse,  the  wild  desert  winds  blowing  in  his  face, 
and  he  laughed  aloud  in  his  dream  for  joy.  But  to 
the  blind  girl  came  a  gentler  vision  of  one  who 
laid  a  healing  hand  upon  her  sightless  eyes,  and 
behold !  she  saw  the  face  of  him  that  had  healed 
her,  but  it  was  not  the  face  of  a  mortal,  for  upon 
it  shone  a  light  beyond  the  light  of  the  sun. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE   WHITE    DROMEDARY. 

LONG  before  the  first  streaks  of  light  in  the 
east  proclaimed  the  dawn,  Seth  was  awake. 
Outside  he  could  hear  the  grunting  of  the  sleepy 
camels,  as  their  drivers  aroused  them  to  fasten  the 
heavy  loads  on  their  patient  backs.  He  raised  the 
flap  of  the  tent  and  looked  out.  A  keen  sparkle 
of  stars  overhead  and  a  whiff  of  cold  air  greeted 
him.  Yet  he  knew  that  it  must  be  near  the  time 
to  start,  and  he  felt  a  thrill  of  boyish  excitement 
at  the  prospect.  Among  the  dark  figures  which 
were  moving  about  near  the  dying  fire  he  thought 
he  could  distinguish  that  of  Ben  Hesed  himself. 
Presently  he  slipped  out,  leaving  Anat  peacefully 
asleep.  Shivering  a  little  in  the  cool  breeze,  he 
made  his  way  towards  the  place  where  the  most 
active  preparations  were  in  full  tide  of  progress. 
"Make  haste!"  he  heard  in  the  authoritative 
(85) 


86  STEPHEN 

tones  of  Ben  Hesed's  voice.  "Thou  shouldst  have 
prepared  the  water-skins  last  night.  Feasting  is 
good,  but  fasting  is  better,  since  it  giveth  diligence 
rather  than  sloth.  I  would  not  that  ye  press  on 
through  the  fiercest  of  the  midday  heat,"  he  added  ; 
"the  maid  hath  imperfectly  recovered  as  yet." 

"They  will  walk  with  the  drivers,  my  lord  ? " 

"  Nay,  not  so.  Thou  shalt  put  the  saddle  upon 
Mirah,  it  will  suffice  for  both." 

Marvelling  greatly  at  this  mark  of  favor,  the 
men  brought  the  great  white  dromedary,  the  favor- 
ite of  her  master,  and  threw  upon  her  the  broad 
saddle,  gay  with  scarlet  leather  and  tinkling  bells. 

Seth  stared  with  amazement  and  delight  at  the 
docile  beast  that  stood  with  outstretched  neck 
snuffing  at  the  fresh  wind. 

"What  dost  thou  make  of  such  favor  to  these 
beggar  brats?"  said  one  of  the  men  in  low  tones 
to  his  companion,  as  he  bent  to  fasten  the  saddle 
girth. 

"Nay,  I  know  not;  'tis  a  marvel,"  answered  the 
other,  looking  cautiously  about  him.  "  Adah  told 
me  last  night  that  he  had  promised  to  take  the  lad 
after  his  return  in  the  place  of  his  son  Eri." 

"Ah,  sayest  thou  so?  Let  me  tell  thee  then 
that  the  lad  will  not  return.  Why  should  such  a 
thing  be,  when  the  son  of  his  sister  is  among  his 
tried  followers  ? " 


THE  WHITE  DROMEDARY.  87 

"What  wilt  thou  do  to  prevent  it,  son  of  my 
lord's  sister,"  said  the  other,  with  a  low  chuckle — 
"and  a  kid  slain  also,  in  the  very  midst  of  the 
mourning,  that  the  heathen  beggars  might  be 
feasted !"  he  added  with  malicious  enjoyment. 

Seth  prudently  drew  back  in  the  darkness  quite 
unnoticed,  but  not  before  a  fragment  of  the  reply 
reached  him  ;  it  was  this,  and  it  filled  him  with 
vague  alarms.  "What  befell  the  lad  Joseph  in  the 
days  when  he  dreamed  dreams,  may  also  again 
happen." 

Who  was  the  lad  Joseph,  he  wondered,  and  what 
befell  him  ?  But  he  presently  forgot  this  in  the 
bustle  and  excitement  of  starting  forth  upon  their 
journey.  Anat  had  been  aroused,  and  the  two, 
perched  securely  on  the  back  of  the  gentle  Mirah, 
were  the  centre  of  a  group  of  women,  some 
of  whom  held  up  their  little  ones  to  see,  while 
others  pushed  parcels  of  fruit  into  the  hand  of  the 
blind  girl,  wishing  them  prosperity  in  their  jour- 
neyings. 

At  length  all  was  ready,  the  last  strap  adjusted, 
the  last  farewell  spoken,  and  the  little  cavalcade, 
consisting  of  some  three  or  four  camels  and  as 
many  men,  moved  slowly  away,  followed  by  the 
stately  Mirah,  the  two  children,  unaccustomed  to 
the  peculiar  swinging  motion  of  her  gait,  clinging 
fast  to  the  saddle  and  scarcely  remembering  to  look 
back  into  the  kind  faces  of  their  rescuers. 


88  STEPHEN 

All  that  day  they  traveled,  stopping  only  for  a 
brief  space  at  the  noontide  hour.  Seth,  remember- 
ing the  command  of  Ben  Hesed,  wondered  a  little 
at  this,  but  he  said  nothing.  In  the  man  who 
seemed  to  be  in  command  of  the  expedition,  the 
lad  had  recognized  with  a  feeling  of  uneasiness  the 
one  who  had  spoken  the  mysterious  words,  "  What 
befell  the  lad  Joseph  may  also  again  happen." 

"  Hast  thou  ever  heard  of  the  lad  Joseph  ? "  he 
said  to  Anat,  when  they  were  once  more  under 
way.  They  had  grown  somewhat  accustomed  to 
the  long,  swinging  strides  of  the  dromedary  now, 
and  were  consequently  more  at  their  ease. 

"  The  lad  Joseph  ? "  repeated  Anat,  in  her  clear, 
penetrating  voice. 

"  Hist !  do  not  let  them  hear  thee.  Yes,  the  lad 
Joseph,  something  strange  befell  him  ;  it  is  a  legend 
perhaps.  I  heard  it  spoken  of  in  yonder  encamp- 
ment ;  thou  knowest  many  such  tales,  for  myself 
I  have  no  mind  to  remember  them." 

"  There  is  the  great  canal  of  Joseph  in  the  land 
of  Egypt,  as  thou  knowest,"  said  Anat,  after  a  few 
moments  of  thought ;  "  there  is  a  tale  concerning 
him  who  caused  it  to  be  made,  I  know  not  how 
long  ago.  I  have  heard  it  many  times  from  our 
mother.  He  was  a  great  prince " 

"  Nay,  then  he  was  not  the  one ;  it  is  of  the  lad 
Joseph,  and  what  befell  him,  that  I  wish  to  know," 
broke  in  Seth  impatiently. 


THE  WHITE  DROMEDARY.  89 

"If  thou  wilt  hold  thy  peace,  water-carrier," 
replied  Anat  with  dignity,  "  I  will  tell  thee  the  tale 
as  it  was  told  me." 

"  Thou  mayest  say  on  ;  it  will  help  pass  away  the 
time." 

"  He  was  a  great  prince,"  resumed  Anat,  still 
with  dignity,  "  but  he  was  also  a  lad  first.  I  had 
the  tale  from  our  mother.  As  I  have  said,  it  was 
told  to  her  when  she  was  a  maid  and  dwelt  in  the 
borders  of  the  wilderness ;  it  is  a  true  tale.  As  a 
lad  this  Joseph  dwelt  in  the  wilderness,  the  young- 
est of  twelve  brethren,  the  others  were  grown  men  ; 
they  hated  Joseph  and  were  envious  of  him  because 
their  father,  who  was  very  rich,  gave  him  many 
things  which  they  received  not,  an  embroidered 
tunic,  a  chain  of  silver,  and  such  like.  The  lad  ako 
dreamed  dreams " 

"Ah!"  exclaimed  Seth  eagerly,  "he  dreamed, 
sayest  thou  ? " 

"Of  a  surety,"  replied  the  blind  girl;  "he 
dreamed  that  when  he  bound  his  sheaf  at  harvest 
time,  the  sheaves  of  his  father  and  mother  and  of 
his  brethren  came  and  bowed  themselves  before  it, 
and  other  dreams  of  the  like  which  signified  that 
he  would  become  a  great  prince,  and  that  all  they 
of  his  household  should  do  reverence  before  him. 
He  should  not  have  told  such  dreams,"  she  added 
sagely,  "for  of  course  his  brothers  only  hated  him 


90  STEPHEN 

the  more.  One  day  he  was  sent  into  the  wilder- 
ness to  fetch  dates  and  honey  to  the  eleven  men, 
his  brothers,  who  were  herding  the  flocks  ;  they 
saw  him  coming,  wearing  his  fine,  many-colored 
tunic,  and  they  made  up  their  minds  to  put  him  out 
of  the  way." 

"What  did  they  do ?"  said  Seth  breathlessly. 

"  I  was  just  coming  to  that,  impatient  one. 
Canst  thou  not  hold  thy  peace  ?  Thou  art  as 
greedy  over  this  tale  as  a  flock  of  sparrows  over 
a  measure  of  corn  that  hath  been  spilled  on  the 
ground." 

"  I  will  hold  my  peace,  queen  of  my  soul,"  said 
Seth  meekly ;  "  only,  I  pray  thee,  tell  me  what 
befell  the  lad." 

Somewhat  appeased  by  his  humble  demeanor, 
the  imperious  little  maid  proceeded  with  her  story. 
"  First,"  she  continued  impressively,  "  they  thought 
that  they  would  kill  him,  and  take  his  fine  tunic 
home  and  tell  their  father  that  a  beast  had  slain 
him,  but  just  as  they  were  turning  the  matter  over 
in  their  minds  they  spied  a  caravan  coming  towards 
them,  so  they  changed  their  wicked  purpose  to  a 
wickeder  yet,j,and  sold  him  for  a  slave.  Yes,  their 
own  brother  for  a  slave,"  she  repeated,  much  grat- 
ified by  the  involuntary  cry  which  her  listener 

gave  at  this.  "They  took  him  to  Egypt "  she 

went  on. 


THE  WHITE  DROMEDARY.  91 

But  Seth  did  not  hear  the  remainder  of  the 
story  ;  he  was  clenching  his  brown  hands  in  silent 
anguish  of  soul.  It  was  all  clear  to  him  now. 
They  were  to  be  sold  as  slaves  after  all  of  their 
sufferings  and  dangers  ;  they  would  never  see  the 
Holy  City,  nor  the  man  Jesus  who  could  heal 
blindness.  He  groaned  aloud. 

Anat,  in  the  full  tide  of  her  narrative,  mistook 
this  for  a  note  of  admiration  or  wonder.  She  had 
just  arrived  at  the  point  in  her  story  where  the 
unfortunate  hero  is  cast  into  prison.  "What 
wouldst  thou  have  done  then?"  she  asked  ab- 
ruptly. 

"I — I — am  sure  I  cannot  tell  thee,  little  one," 
answered  Seth,  rousing  himself  with  difficulty. 

"  Thou  wouldst  have  remained  there  till  the  day 
of  thy  death,  no  doubt,"  with  superb  scorn,  "but 
not  so  Joseph  ;  he " 

"  I  am  drowsy,  little  one ;  Sechet  rages  fiercely 
in  the  heavens  ;  let  us  leave  the  tale  till  to-morrow," 
said  Seth  in  a  smothered  voice. 

Anat  touched  his  cheek  with  a  cautious  fore- 
finger. "  It  is  true,  thy  flesh  hath  over-much  heat. 
See  !  I  have  here  a  pomegranate  ;  thou  shalt  eat 
of  it  and  be  refreshed." 

After  this  the  travelers  spoke  but  little.  Tire- 
lessly the  white  dromedary  strode  onward  under 
the  blinding  glare  of  the  sun,  her  broad  feet  making 


92  STEPHEN 

no  sound  on  the  yielding  sand ;  the  landscape  quiv- 
ered in  the  intense  heat,  melting  into  golden,  pink 
and  violet  fires  in  the  far  distances,  while  near  at 
hand  the  scarlet  blooms  of  the  cactus  glowed  like 
live  coals.  Once  they  came  upon  a  flock  of  vul- 
tures gorging  themselves  upon  the  carcass  of  a 
camel ;  they  rose  with  hoarse  croakings  and  with- 
drew themselves  to  a  little  distance,  till  the  living 
should  pass  by.  "As  yet,  we  have  no  concern 
with  thee,"  they  seemed  to  say  to  the  white  drome- 
dary, "but  so  shall  it  be  with  thee  also,  for  man  is 
ungrateful."  Then  they  again  descended,  a  dis- 
mal crew,  upon  the  stranded  wreck  of  the  desert 
ship.  And  the  stately  Mirah  strode  onward  tire- 
lessly. 

That  night  they  pitched  a  tent  and  built  a  fire  of 
the  dried  shrubs.  The  man  Pagiel  spoke  roughly 
to  the  children  ;  he  bade  the  lad  gather  the  fuel ; 
as  for  the  maid,  he  pushed  her  aside  with  his  foot, 
as  though  she  were  a  dog.  Seth's  eyes  burned 
when  he  saw  the  thing,  but  he  said  nothing ;  he 
thought  instead.  The  white  dromedary  crouched 
upon  the  sand,  chewing  her  cud,  her  large  eyes 
fixed  thoughtfully  upon  the  distance.  The  boy 
approached  her  cautiously  and  caressed  her  snowy 
neck ;  the  beast  permitted  it  with  a  low  sound  in 
her  throat. 

"  That  wouldst  thou  not  venture  with  every  beast 


THE  WHITE  DROMEDARY.  93 

in  the  flock,"  said  one  of  the  men  good-naturedly. 
"  They  be  ugly  save  with  those  who  know  them. 
Yonder  camel  can  be  touched  by  no  other  save 
Jered,  his  driver ;  but  Mirah  there  is  of  another 
sort ;  I  have  seen  my  lord's  little  ones  climb  upon 
her  back  when  they  were  babes.  For  speed  she  is 
a  marvel;  thou  hast  not  seen  it,  for  the  camels 
travel  but  slowly." 

"She  can  outrun  them  then?"  said  Seth,  his 
heart  beating  violently. 

"  Assuredly,  boy,  there  is  nothing  swifter  save 
the  wind." 

"  Fetch  fuel,  beggar !  "  cried  Pagiel,  accompany- 
ing his  words  with  a  fierce  look,  "and  do  thou 
afterward  get  into  the  tent  and  sleep,  thou  and  the 
girl." 

"  Why  dost  thou  speak  thus  harsh-ly  to  the  lad  ? " 
questioned  the  other  after  Seth  had  withdrawn  in 
obedience  to  the  command. 

"He  is  a  heathen  beggar  ;  why  should  he  receive 
kindness  at  my  hand  ?  Listen  !  to-morrow  we  come 
to  the  fountain  of  Hodesh,  'tis  but  a  day's  march 
from  the  river ;  we  will  tarry  there  till  a  caravan 
shall  pass  by,  then  will  we  sell  the  lad  and  the 
maiden  for  gold.  The  gold  shalt  thou  divide  be- 
tween the  three  of  you,  and  thou  shalt  say  naught 
to  Ben  Hesed  concerning  the  matter ;  it  will  pass 
from  his  mind,  even  as  the  mist  dissolves  before 


94  STEPHEN 

the  rising  sun.  But  thou  shalt  have  that  wherewith 
to  comfort  thyself." 

The  man  listened  with  bent  brows.  "What  is 
comfort  to  me,"  he  said  sullenly,  "if  I  have  not 
thy  daughter  to  wife ;  she  is  comely,  and  I  love 
her  better  than  gold." 

Pagiel  stared  at  the  speaker  with  amazement. 
"Thou  hast  forgotten  thyself,"  he  said  haughtily. 

"  Nay,  I  have  not  forgotten ;  thou  art  the  son  of 
my  lord's  sister,  I  am  the  son  of  Kish  the  herds- 
man. Yet  in  the  desert  what  matters  it,  am  I  not 
a  man  like  unto  thee  ? " 

Pagiel  was  silent  a  moment.  "It  shall  be  so," 
he  said  at  length.  "  It  is  true  thou  art  a  man,  and 
my  daughter  is,  after  all,  only  a  woman ;  I  have 
sons  also,  thanks  be  to  Jehovah  !  " 

"And  the  gold?" 

"Shall  be  for  the  maid's  dowry,  in  addition  to 
what  she  ha,th  already." 

"  Thou  hast  dealt  graciously  with  me,  my  lord,  I 
am  henceforth  as  thy  son,  and  as  thy  son  will  I 
obey  thee." 

On  the  morrow  they  came  to  the  fountain  of 
Hodesh,  and  they  encamped  there,  waiting  for  a 
caravan.  On  the  third  day  during  the  heat  of  the 
noontide  the  men  slept  within  the  tent,  but  Seth 
rose  up  softly,  and  went  out.  He  rilled  his  goat- 
skin at  the  fountain  and  bound  it  upon  his  back ; 


THE  WHITE  DROMEDARY.  95 

he  took  also  of  the  parched  corn  a  small  measure, 
and  of  the  dates  a  double  handful;  "for,"  he  said  to 
himself,  "it  was  for  us  that  these  things  were  given 
by  the  lord  of  the  desert." 

"Why  dost  thou  fill  thy  goat-skin,  brother?" 
said  Anat,  hearing  the  familiar  tinkle  of  the  brasses. 

"  Wake  not  the  men  yonder,"  answered  Seth  in 
a  cautious  whisper.  "They  would  deal  with  us 
after  the  manner  of  the  brethren  of  Joseph.  We 
will  get  us  away  upon  the  white  dromedary,  nor 
shall  they  be  able  to  overtake  us." 

So  the  two  went  softly  to  where  Mirah  crouched 
beneath  the  shadow  of  the  palms,  and  they  climbed 
upon  her  back. 

"  It  is  a  good  thing  for  us  that  Pagiel  commanded 
her  to  be  saddled,"  quoth  Seth.  "He  had  the  in- 
tent to  ride  after  his  sleep." 

Then  he  spoke  softly  in  the  ear  of  the  beast  after 
the  fashion  of  her  driver ;  and  she  rose  up  with 
them,  and  went  silently  away  into  the  desert 
towards  the  range  of  hills,  beyond  which  lay  the 
land  of  Judaea. 

But  Pagiel  awaked  out  of  his  sleep  and  stood  in 
the  door  of  his  tent.  And  when  he  saw  the  drome- 
dary fleeing  away,  he  made  a  great  outcry  and 
awakened  the  others  also ;  and  they  pursued  after 
them  for  many  hours,  but  they  were  not  able  to 
overtake  them  because  the  gentle  Mirah  was  very 


96  STEPHEN 

swift.  Anon  she  disappeared  from  before  their 
eyes  like  a  white  sail  on  the  distant  verge  of  the  sea. 
When  Pagiel  saw  that  she  was  gone,  bearing  the 
two  whom  he  would  have  sold  into  slavery,  he  tore 
his  beard  and  wept  with  rage  because  he  had  prom- 
ised his  daughter  to  the  son  of  Kish,  the  herdsman. 
For  he  feared  his  women,  notwithstanding  he  was 
a  man,  and  of  great  stature. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

AT   THE    GATE    BEAUTIFUL. 

THE  long  hours  of  the  morning  had  worn  them- 
selves away,  the  sunshine  had  ceased  to  glitter 
on  the  wonderful  carved  brass  of  the  great  gate 
Shushan  some  three  hours  since.  One  without, 
standing  on  the  marble  pavement,  might  admire 
the  marvels  of  Corinthian  workmanship  without  an 
undue  dazzling  of  the  vision ;  so  also  might  the 
lame  man,  who  lay  on  his  mat  a  little  to  one  side 
of  the  entrance.  Yet  was  he  paying  scant  heed  to 
the  grandeur  of  his  surroundings.  He  lay  at  the 
gate  of  the  temple,  which  was  called. "Beautiful," 
not  because  it  was  beautiful,  but  because  through 
it  passed  a  stream  of  worshippers  to  and  from  the 
well-nigh  ceaseless  services  of  prayer  and  praise 
within.  These  all  carried  their  money  within  their 
hand,  since  it  was  not  lawful  to  enter  the  sacred 
enclosure  having  one's  gold  or  silver  within  a  purse 
7  (97) 


98  STEPHEN 

nor  indeed  anywhere  about  the  person  save  in  the 
hand  only.  So  the  lame  man  profited  by  the  law, 
inasmuch  as  many  cast  a  coin  into  his  bosom  who 
might  otherwise  have  been  in  too  much  haste  for 
prayer  to  have  fetched  out  their  purses  for  a  beggar. 

On  this  day,  however,  the  hands  of  the  many  had 
remained  tightly  closed  upon  their  treasure,  not 
only  when  they  went  in  to  bow  themselves  before 
the  All-Giver,  but  also  when  they  came  out. 

The  lame  man  looked  at  them  as  they  passed  by 
him  with  unseeing  eyes.  He  wondered  what  bless- 
ing these  men  with  their  hard,  worldly-wise  faces 
and  closed  fists  had  asked  of  the  Almighty ;  he 
also  wondered  if  they  had  received.  He  himself 
went  but  seldom  within  the  gates.  He  could  not 
approach  too  near  the  Holy  Place  because  of  his 
infirmity.  God  had  declared  that  such  as  the  lame, 
the  halt  and  the  blind  were  unholy  and  displeasing 
in  his  sight,  so  the  priests  taught.  But  he  had 
been  lame  from  his  birth  and  was  sadly  accustomed 
to  this  and  other  miseries  of  his  lot.  For  forty 
years  his  soul  had  looked  from  the  windows  of  his 
prison-house  upon  the  world.  In  these  forty  years 
he  had  ceased  to  look  for  happiness,  but  he  had 
learned  to  be  silent  and  to  endure,  which  is  perhaps 
better. 

He  had  heard  tales  of  the  man  Jesus,  who  had 
healed  many ;  once  he  had  begged  his  bearers  to 


x  T  THE  GA  TE  BE  A  UTIFUL.  99 

carry  him  to  the  healer  that  he  also  might  be 
restored,  but  they  had  refused. 

"Thou  art  able  to  earn  the  bread  which  thou 
eatest,  and  also  to  recompense  us,  who  fetch  thee 
back  and  forth  from  the  temple  gate ;  if  thou  art 
healed,  what  canst  thou  do  more  ?  thou  art  already 
old.  There  is  no  profit  in  having  thee  healed,  there- 
fore remain  as  thou  art." 

So  he  had  remained  as  he  was,  and  now  the  man 
Jesus  was  dead,  crucified,  and  there  was  no  further 
chance  that  he  might  be  healed.  He  regretted  it 
patiently ;  one  learns  to  be  patient  even  in  one's 
regrets  during  forty  years.  But  he  often  thought 
of  the  man  who  had  been  crucified.  The  priests 
had  done  it,  he  had  been  told  ;  in  secret  he  hated 
the  priests,  and  for  this  thing  he  hated  them  the 
more.  Why  should  they  kill  the  man  because  he 
had  healed  upon  the  Sabbath  day  ?  he  thought  bit- 
terly ;  but  he  said  nothing,  for  there  was  no  one 
who  cared  for  his  thoughts. 

Presently  he  bethought  himself  to  take  account 
of  his  gains  for  the  day,  since  the  hour  of  sunset 
was  drawing  on  apace.  "'Tis  not  enough,"  he 
muttered,  as  he  counted  the  copper  coins  from  his 
greasy  pouch.  "  I  must  pay  Nicolas  and  Obed, 
else  they  will  not  fetch  me  home ;  I  like  not  to 
stay  here  by  night,  the  wind  from  the  valley  is 
chill."  Then  he  lifted  his  head  and  saw  two  men 


ioo  STEPHEN 

ascending  the  marble  steps.  They  were  not  rich, 
his  experienced  eye  told  him  that,  but  it  was  not 
from  the  rich  that  he  expected  alms.  They  were 
too  busy  thinking  of  the  ritual  which  they  were 
going  to  repeat,  or  which  perchance  they  had  just 
repeated  without  a  flaw ;  and  the  pieces  of  money 
within  their  hand  were  sure  to  be  gold,  or  at  least 
silver,  neither  meet  for  a  beggar.  No,  it  was  from 
women  going  humbly  in  to  their  outer  court  of 
worship,  or  from  children,  that  he  received,  or  from 
such  men  as  these  in  the  plain  garb  of  Galilean 
peasants.  Therefore  the  beggar  lifted  up  his  voice 
with  some  confidence  and  cried  aloud  in  the  words 
which  his  mother — when  she  found  that  he  was  a 
hopeless  cripple — had  taught  him,  and  which  he 
had  repeated  many  times  each  day  since. 

"  Sons  of  Abraham  !  Chosen  of  Jehovah  !  have 
mercy,  I  beseech  thee,  on  one  lame  from  his  birth  ! 
Give  unto  me  from  thy  heaven-bestowed  bounty ; 
so  will  God  recompense  thee  fourfold." 

The  two  men  stopped  and  looked  at  him  in- 
tently, and  the  beggar  repeated  his  cry,  stretching 
forth  his  lean  hand  imploringly  and  lifting  his 
ragged  robe  to  show  the  helpless  and  shrunken 
limbs  beneath.  "They  will  give,"  he  thought 
within  himself.  "It  will  not  be  much,  but  it  has 
been  a  bad  day  with  me  so  far,  and  every  little 
helps." 


A  T  THE  GA  TE  BE  A  UTIFUL.  101 

"Look  on  us,"  said  the  older  of  the  two  men 
imperatively. 

The  beggar  obeyed,  marvelling  within  himself  at 
the  singular  brightness  of  the  man's  eyes.  He 
began  to  think  that  perhaps  for  once  he  had  been 
mistaken,  and  that  these  men,  despite  their  humble 
apparel,  were  after  all  rich  and  important. 

"Silver  and  gold  have  I  none,"  said  the  man,  still 
holding  the  beggar's  expectant  gaze  with  his  pow- 
erful eye,  "  but  such  as  I  have,  give  I  thee.  In  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth,  rise  up  and 
walk." 

A  thrill  of  hope  passed  into  the  beggar's  starved 
soul ;  his  heart  beat  violently,  his  eyes  grew  dim, 
he  again  stretched  forth  his  hand,  scarcely  know- 
ing what  he  did ;  it  was  seized  in  a  strong  grasp, 
and  he  felt  himself  raised  to  his  feet — the  feet 
upon  which  he  had  never  stood  in  all  the  forty 
years  of  his  life.  His  heart  leaped  within  his 
bosom  with  a  strange  and  wonderful  joy.  Invol- 
untarily his  feet  leaped  also,  he  could  not  help  it. 
He  clung  to  his  deliverers,  weeping  out  incoherent 
blessings  and  prayers.  Then,  walking  and  leaping, 
he  entered  into  the  temple  with  them,  and  remem- 
bering that  he  was  no  longer  a  cripple,  and  that 
now  he  might  approach  God  freely,  he  cried  aloud 
in  his  joy,  not  standing  according  to  the  law,  with 
feet  close  together,  hands  upon  his  breast  and 


102  STEPHEN 

head  bowed,  but  walking  and  leaping  and  praising 
jubilantly  with  a  loud  voice.  He  knew  that  he  had 
received,  therefore  his  full  soul  overflowed  its 
bounds. 

As  for  the  rest  of  the  worshippers,  who  had 
prayed  according  to  the  law,  and  in  whose  souls 
there  surged  no  such  tumultuous  happiness — and 
why  indeed  should  there  ? — they  were  greatly  dis- 
turbed at  this  unseemly  exhibition.  They  looked 
askance  at  the  strange  ragged  figure  singing  aloud 
of  his  wonderful  deliverance,  and  they  shook  their 
heads  and  frowned.  "  Go  forth  into  the  porch," 
commanded  certain  who  were  in  authority,  "  until 
we  shall  look  into  this  matter." 

And  the  beggar,  nothing  loth,  obeyed,  still  cling- 
ing to  his  deliverers  and  praising  more  loudly  than 
ever. 

"Who  art  thou?"  he  cried.  "Tell  me,  for  I 
would  know ;  mayhap  ye  be  angels  in  the  garb  of 
men." 

"  Nay,  we  are  but  disciples  of  the  crucified  one, 
Jesus  of  Nazareth.  'Tis  by  faith  in  bis  name  that 
we  have  been  able  to  heal  thee,  and  not  by  our  own 
power." 

And  when  the  beggar  heard  the  name,  Jesus,  he 
praised  God  yet  more  loudly. 

Now  all  the  people  hearing  the  voice  of  the  beg- 
gar ran  together  in  the  porch,  which  is  called  Solo- 


A  T  THE  GA  TE  BEA  UTIFUL.  103 

mon's,  to  see  what  had  happened  ;  and  when  they 
saw  him  that  had  been  lame,  walking  and  leaping 
as  he  praised  God,  they  were  filled  with  wonder. 
Some  ran  to  the  gate  Beautiful  to  make  sure  that 
it  was  he  and  no  other,  but  they  found  there  only 
the  empty  mat  on  which  the  beggar  had  lain,  and 
they  returned  marvelling  more  than  ever. 

"Behold!"  they  whispered,  pointing  out  Peter 
one  to  another,  "  It  was  the  man  yonder  who  per- 
formed the  miracle.  It  must  needs  be  that  he  is 
most  holy,  that  he  hath  kept  the  law  without  fail- 
ure of  jot  or  tittle,  that  he  can  do  such  marvels." 

But  when  Peter  perceived  this  he  said  unto  the 
people  :  "  Ye  men  of  Israel,  why  wonder  ye  at  this, 
or  why  look  ye  so  earnestly  upon  us,  as  though  by 
our  own  power  or  holiness  we  had  made  this  man 
to  walk  ?  The  God  of  Abraham,  and  of  Israel,  and 
of  Jacob,  the  God  of  our  fathers  hath  glorified  his 
son  Jesus,  whom  ye  delivered  up  and  denied  in  the 
presence  of  Pilate  when  he  had  determined  to  re- 
lease him.  Ye  rejected  the  holy  and  righteous 
one  and  asked  that  a  murderer  should  be  granted 
you  ;  but  the  giver  of  life  ye  killed.  Yet  hath  God 
raised  him  again  from  the  dead,  whereof  we  are 
witnesses.  By  faith  in  his  name  hath  this  man 
been  made  whole,  whom  also  ye  see  and  have 
known.  Yea,  the  faith  which  is  by  him  hath 
given  him  this  perfect  soundness  in  the  presence 


io4  STEPHEN 

of  you  all.  And  now,  brethren,  I  know  that  in 
ignorance  ye  did  these  things,  as  also  your  rulers  ; 
what  God  before  announced  by  the  mouth  of  all 
his  prophets  that  the  Christ  should  suffer,  he 
thus  fulfilled.  Repent,  therefore,  and  turn  ye,  that 
your  sins  may  be  blotted  out,  so  may  the  times  of 
refreshing  come  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord. 
And  he  shall  send  the  Christ  who  hath  been 
before  proclaimed  unto  you,  even  Jesus ;  yet  he 
must  needs  remain  in  the  heavens  till  the  time 
cometh  when  all  things  shall  be  restored,  which 
time  hath  God  spoken  of  by  the  mouth  of  his 
holy  prophets  since  the  world  began.  For  Moses 
said  unto  the  fathers,  '  A  prophet  shall  the  Lord 
your  God  raise  up  unto  you  of  your  brethren,  like 
unto  me.  To  him  shall  ye  harken  in  all  things 
whatsoever  he  shall  say  unto  you.  And  it  shall 
come  to  pass  that  every  soul  which  will  not  hear 
him  shall  be  utterly  destroyed  from  among  the 
people.'  Yea,  and  all  the  prophets  from  Samuel 
and  them  that  follow  after,  as  many  as  have 
spoken,  have  likewise  foretold  of  these  days.  Ye 
are  the  sons  of  the  prophets,  and  of  the  Covenant 
which  God  made  with  our  fathers,  saying  unto 
Abraham,  '  and  in  thy  seed  shall  all  the  kindreds 
of  the  earth  be  blessed.'  Unto  you  first,  God, 
having  raised  up  his  son  Jesus,  sent  him,  that 
he  might  bless  you  in  turning  away  every  one  of 
you  from  his  sins." 


A  T  THE  GA  TE  BE  A  UTIFUL.  105 

And  all  the  people  paid  heed  unto  him ;  and 
many  wept  aloud  for  joy  when  they  heard  that 
they  might  be  forgiven  for  their  part  in  the  cruci- 
fixion of  Jesus.  They  had  not  forgotten  that  day, 
nor  how  they  had  cried  "Away  with  him — away 
with  him  !  Crucify  him — crucify  him  !"  Nor  had 
they  forgotten  the  terror  of  darkness  at  midday 
and  the  earthquake,  nor  the  terrible  sentence 
which  they  had  pronounced  upon  themselves : 
'i  His  blood  be  upon  us  and  upon  our  children." 
Many  times  had  they  cried  in  secret  what  also 
they  had  said  on  that  day,  "We  are  undone — we 
are  undone  ! "  Therefore  believed  they  with  glad- 
ness the  word  which  Peter  had  spoken  unto  them, 
and  they  prayed  aloud  that  God  would  forgive 
them  their  blood-guiltiness.  But  as  Peter  and 
John  would  have  spoken  further  unto  them,  the 
Priests  and  officers  of  the  temple  and  the  Saddu- 
cees  came  suddenly  upon  them. 

"What  mean  ye,  blasphemers  ?"  they  said,  "that 
within  the  sacred  precincts  of  the  temple  ye  do 
preach  in  the  name  of  an  accursed  malefactor  the 
resurrection  from  the  dead.  These  things  shall 
not  be."  And  they  locked  them  up  until  the  next 
day,  for  it  was  now  eventide.  As  for  the  beggar 
that  had  been  healed,  they  put  him  in  hold  also, 
that  they  might  examine  him  at  their  leisure. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

IN    THE   COUNCIL   CHAMBER. 

ANNAS  sat  quite  alone  in  the  council  chamber 
of  the  Sanhedrim.  He  had  come  early  in 
order  that  he  might  set  in  order  certain  papers, 
and  also  that  he  might  with  due  deliberation  deter- 
mine the  course  of  procedure  for  the  morning's 
session.  But  this  was  not  easy ;  things  looked 
dubious  for  the  success  of  his  enterprise ;  he  was 
forced  to  acknowledge  as  much  to  himself. 

"This  miracle  now,"  he  thought,  stroking  his 
hoary  beard  reflectively,  "  was  a  most  unfortunate 
thing — most  untimely.  The  multitude  seem  quite 
carried  away  by  it.  Should  we  adopt  violent  meas- 
ures with  these  pernicious  persons  it  would,  I  fear, 
fail  to  commend  itself  to  the  populace." 

At  this  point  in  his  cogitations  he  was  disturbed 
by  the  sound  of  a  slow  heavy  step  ascending  the 
stair;  the  door  opened  and  Caiaphas  entered. 
(106) 


IN  THE  COUNCIL  CHAMBER.  107 

Annas  looked  at  him  in  surprise,  noting  with  cold 
disapproval  his  haggard  face,  his  disordered  apparel, 
his  shaking  hands. 

"  I  am  astonished,"  he  said,  bringing  his  critical 
gaze  to  a  standstill  upon  the  uneasy  eyes  of  his 
son-in-law,  "astonished,  indeed  I  may  say  that  I 
am  not  well  pleased  to  see  thee  here  this  morning, 
my  son.  Thou  hast  the  look  of  a  man  who  should 
be  within  the  walls  of  his  sick  chamber.  The 
ministrations  of  my  daughter's  skilful  hand  will 
surely  prove  more  acceptable  to  thee  in  thy  present 
state  than  the  deliberations  of  statecraft.  I  pray 
thee  let  me  command  for  thee  a  litter." 

"  Hold ! "  said  Caiaphas,  grasping  the  old  man 
by  the  arm.  "  Hear  what  I  have  to  say  to  thee 
first,"  and  he  lowered  his  voice  to  a  husky  whisper. 
"Thy  daughter  is  no  longer  my  wife." 

"  What  dost  thou  mean,  man  ?    Thou  art  mad  ! " 

"  Nay,  I  am  not  mad  ;  would  that  I  were  ! "  said 
the  other  faintly. 

"I  repeat  that  thou  art  mad,"  cried  Annas,  his 
eyes  blazing  with  a  scornful  fire.  "  What !  my 
daughter  repudiated  by  thee  ?  " 

"  She  hath  become  a  follower  of  the  Nazarene," 
said  Caiaphas  dully.  "Could  she  longer  be  wife 
of  mine?" 

"Where  is  she?" 

"  She  hath  gone  to  them." 


io8  STEPHEN 

Annas  was  silent  for  a  time.  "  If  what  thou 
sayest  be  no  figment  of  a  disordered  brain,"  he 
said  deliberately,  "  then  I  say  thou  hast  done  well. 
No  longer  wife  of  thine,  she  shall  be  no  longer 
daughter  of  mine.  She  is  henceforth  one  of  the 
followers  of  him  whom  we  hanged  upon  the  ac- 
cursed tree.  As  for  them,  shall  I  tell  thee  what 
shall  shortly  come  to  pass  ? " 

The  younger  man  made  no  reply. 

"  When  men  would  plant  grain  in  a  field  which 
hath  been  a  wilderness,"  continued  Annas,  still  in 
the  same  icy,  deliberate  tones,  "  they  root  up  the 
tares  and  utterly  destroy  them  with  fire.  This 
shall  we  do  with  these  mischievous  and  deadly 
weeds  that  be  winding  their  poisonous  roots  about 
the  only  props  that  remain  to  our  suffering  nation, 
the  temple  and  the  home.  But  let  not  this  thing 
be  spoken  of — the  matter  of  the  woman,  I  mean. 
There  is  no  need  to  make  our  name  a  byword  and 
a  hissing ;  she  hath  for  the  present  gone  to  pay  a 
visit ;  later  we  shall,  perhaps,  devise  a  way  to 
secretly  rid  ourselves " 

"  What !  "  cried  Caiaphas,  starting  up.  "  Wouldst 
thou ?" 

"Hist,  man,  the  others  are  coming! — wilt  thou 
remain  ?  We  shall  this  morning  concern  ourselves 
with  this  very  matter." 

"  I  will  remain." 


IN  THE  COUNCIL  CHAMBER.  109 

And  when  presently  the  council  was  convened, 
he  took  his  old  place  upon  the  right  hand  of  Annas. 
In  his  sick  heart  he  wished  for  death,  yet  there 
burned  within  him  the  miserable  desire  to  avenge 
himself  upon  them  at  whose  door  he  laid  the  loss 
of  both  his  wife  and  his  son. 

"  Thou  mayest  fetch  hither  the  two  men  whom 
ye  put  in  hold,"  commanded  Annas,  "likewise  the 
beggar." 

"Ye  behold  in  these,"  he  continued,  fixing  his 
piercing  gaze  upon  Peter  and  John,  as  they  stood 
before  the  semicircle  of  their  august  judges,  "two 
men  who  were  prominent  followers  of  the  Nazarene, 
who  was  recently  put  to  death  because  of  his 
crimes  against  church  and  state.  Wise  men  would 
have  taken  a  wholesome  warning  from  the  fate  of 
their  false  teacher,  but  these  follow  in  the  footsteps 
of  him  who  was  crucified,  not  remembering  appar- 
ently that  those  footsteps  led  to  the  cross.  Yes- 
terday there  was  a  tumult  raised  in  the  holy  temple, 
a  beggar  whom  God  had  justly  afflicted  because  of 
the  sins  of  his  fathers  was,  forsooth,  healed  ;  healed 
by  these  men.  It  is  not  meet  that  such  things  be 
permitted.  I  therefore  command  that  ye  tell  us 
straightway  by  what  means  and  by  what  name  ye 
have  done  this  thing? " 

"Ye  rulers  of  the  people,  and  elders  of  Israel," 
said  Peter,  and  at  the  sound  of  his  voice  the  beg- 


no  STEPHEN 

gar  who  had  involuntarily  shrunken  back  abashed 
stood  boldly  forth.  "  If  we  this  day  be  examined  of 
the  good  deed  done  to  the  impotent  man,  and  if  ye 
will  inquire  by  what  means  he  is  made  whole,  be  it 
known  unto  you  all  and  to  all  the  people  of  Israel, 
that  by  the  name  of  Jesus  the  Nazarene,  the  Mes- 
siah, whom  ye  crucified  but  whom  God  raised  from 
the  dead,  even  by  him  doth  this  man  stand  here 
before  you  whole.  This  is  the  stone  which  was 
set  at  naught  of  you  builders,  which  is  become  the 
head  of  the  corner.  Neither  is  there  salvation 
in  any  other,  for  there  is  none  other  name  under 
heaven  given  among  men  whereby  we  must  be 
saved." 

Something  of  the  same  feeling  which  had  over- 
whelmed Annas  on  the  night  when  he  had  essayed 
to  question  the  man  of  Nazareth  came  upon  him. 
He  tried  to  speak,  and  his  voice  failed  him.  Mean- 
time a  murmur  of  surprise  ran  about  the  circle. 

"How  is  it,"  whispered  one  to  his  neighbor, 
"that  these  ignorant  men  can  speak  in  such  a 
manner  ? " 

"They  have  learned  it  in  the  company  of  the 
Galilean,"  replied  the  other.  "  Dost  thou  not  re- 
member his  sayings?" 

"What  shall  we  say?"  queried  a  third.  "The 
man  there  will  spread  the  thing  far  and  wide." 

"Remove  the  prisoners,"   commanded   Annas, 


IN  THE  COUNCIL  CHAMBER.  in 

somewhat  recovering  himself.  "  We  must  confer 
in  private  concerning  this  thing.  This  is  a  most 
untoward  happening,"  he  added,  when  they  were 
alone,  looking  about  him  at  the  circle  of  attentive 
faces.  "  What  now  shall  we  do  with  these  men  ? " 

"Let  them  be  stoned  for  blasphemy,"  said 
Alexander,  drawing  his  heavy  brows  together. 
"  Did  they  not  call  the  crucified  Galilean  the  Mes- 
siah, and  declare  that  God  had  raised  him  from  the 
dead  ?  This  also  they  preach  openly  to  the  people. 
For  myself  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  our  case  is 
worse  than  before  ;  the  Galilean  himself  was  but 
one  man,  and  could  be  in  but  one  place,  now,  for- 
sooth, we  have  a  thousand  men  in  his  stead,  all 
haranguing,  healing  and  creating  a  very  fire  of 
heresy  amongst  the  populace.  The  thing  must  be 
stopped,  else  will  our  power  be  short-lived.  These 
men  be  worse  than  the  Romans,  for  they  at  least 
suffer  us  to  be  in  peace." 

"  Suppose  that  we  stone  them,"  remarked  one  of 
the  sons  of  Annas  with  a  sneer.  "  How  then  are 
we  bettered  ?  The  whole  city  would  take  up  the 
cry  against  us,  more  especially  the  lower  classes 
who  envy  us  our  wealth.  '  These  holy  men  have 
wrought  a  notable  miracle,'  they  would  howl,  '  and 
the  Sanhedrists  have  stoned  them  for  it.'  Could 
we  crush  the  whole  mob  of  the  so-called  disciples 
with  a  single  stone,  and  perform  the  deed  quietly, 


ii2  STEPHEN 

then  should  1  cry  with  a  good  will,  '  Let  them  be 
stoned.'  As  it  is,  such  a  course  would  only  add 
fuel  to  the  flame." 

"  Thou  hast  spoken  wisely,  my  son,"  said  Annas. 
"The  miracle  is  a  notable  one  ;  all  Jerusalem  knows 
it,  and  we  cannot  deny  it.  But  that  it  spread  no 
further  among  the  people,  let  us  straitly  threaten 
them,  that  they  speak  henceforth  to  no  man  in  this 
name.  Fetch  now  the  men,"  he  added,  turning  to 
the  temple  police  who  waited  their  pleasure. 

"  We  have  considered  the  matter  of  your  doings 
with  care,"  he  continued  with  portentous  solemnity, 
when  the  prisoners  had  again  been  set  in  his  pres- 
ence. "The  matter  of  the  healing  we  are  disposed 
to  overlook,  though  it  is  not  seemly  for  children  of 
dust  to  assume  the  prerogatives  of  the  Almighty  ; 
by  his  hand  hath  this  man  been  laid  low,  he  should 
have  remained  as  he  was.  It  is  not  our  custom  to 
heal  beggars,  nor  should  it  be  yours  ;  it  savoreth  of 
a  compact  with  the  evil  one.  The  matter  of  your 
speaking  to  the  people  is  far  more  serious.  Dost 
thou  know  that  thou  hast  laid  thyself  open  to  a 
death  by  stoning  ?  For  verily  thou  hast  blasphemed 
foully;  our  ears  and  the  ears  of  them  that  have 
heard  thee  are  polluted  by  the  unholy  words  which 
thou  hast  spoken.  Yet  are  we  merciful  and  inclined 
to  pardon  even  this  iniquity,  on  the  one  condition 
that  from  henceforth  ye  speak  to  no  man  in  this 


IN  THE  COUNCIL  CHAMBER.  113 

name  of  Jesus — a  name  I  like  not  to  utter.  If  now 
ye  are  ready  to  comply  with  this  our  reasonable 
request,  ye  shall  at  once  be  released." 

Then  did  John,  the  beloved  disciple,  fix  his  calm 
eyes  on  the  man  who  had  spoken  ;  with  something 
of  the  divine  prescience  of  the  Master  did  he  read 
the  false  soul  behind  the  lying  lips.  "  Whether  it 
be  right  in  the  sight  of  God,"  he  said  solemnly, 
"to  obey  you  rather  than  God,  judge  ye.  For  we 
cannot  but  speak  the  things  which  we  have  seen 
and  heard." 

"  Continue  to  speak  them,"  cried  Caiaphas  in  a 
fury,  as  he  thought  of  his  lost  wife,  "and  a  fate 
more  terrible  than  stoning  shall  befall  thee.  Shall 
we  endure  to  see 

But  Annas  laid  a  warning  hand  upon  his  arm. 
"Remove  these  men,"  he  said  hastily  to  the  temple 
guard.  "  Let  them  go." 

"And  the  beggar,  my  lord  ? " 

"Release  him  also,  but  bid  him  hold  his  peace 
concerning  his  healing,  both  in  the  temple  and 
elsewhere,  lest  a  worse  thing  than  lameness  come 
upon  him." 

But  the  beggar  followed  after  the  disciples  as 
they  went  away,  and  when  they  saw  him  they  said, 
"  Dost  thou  join  thyself  to  us  because  thou  believ- 
est  on  the  name  of  Jesus  ?  " 

And  he  answered  them  humbly,   "  By  the  name 
8 


ii4  STEPHEN 

of  Jesus  was  I  healed  of  mine  infirmity,  how  then 
can  I  help  but  believe  ?  " 

And  they  suffered  him  gladly  because  of  that 
word.  And  when  they  were  come  to  the  place 
wherein  were  gathered  many  others  that  believed, 
they  told  all  that  the  chief  priests  and  elders  had 
said  to  them,  and  they  lifted  up  their  voice  to  God 
in  one  accord  and  said  : 

"  O  Lord,  thou  that  didst  make  the  heaven,  and 
the  earth,  and  the  sea,  and  all  that  in  them  is,  by 
the  mouth  of  David  thy  servant  thou  didst  say : 

"  '  Why  did  the  nations  rage. 

And  the  people  meditate  vain  things  ? 
The  kings  of  the  earth,  set  themselves  in  array, 
And  the  rulers  were  gathered  together 
Against  the  Lord,  and  against  his  Anointed.' 

"  For  of  a  truth,  in  this  city  were  gathered  together 
against  thy  holy  servant  Jesus,  whom  thou  didst 
anoint,  both  Herod  and  Pontius  Pilate,  with  the 
nations  and  the  peoples  of  Israel.  And  they  did 
what  thy  hand  and  thy  counsel  had  determined 
should  come  to  pass.  And  now,  Lord,  look  upon 
their  threatenings,  and  grant  unto  thy  servants  to 
speak  thy  word  with  all  boldness,  and  stretch  forth 
thy  hand  to  heal,  that  signs  and  wonders  may  be 
done  by  the  name  of  thy  holy  servant  Jesus." 

And  when  they  had  thus  prayed,  behold  the 
place  where  they  were  assembled  was  shaken  and 


IN  THE  COUNCIL  CHAMBER.  115 

they  were  all  filled  with  the  Spirit,  so  that  they  had 
no  fear  in  their  hearts  of  what  might  befall  them 
at  the  hands  of  their  enemies.  And  on  that  day 
and  every  day  they  continued  to  speak  the  words 
which  God  gave  them  with  great  joy  and  confi- 
dence. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

AT   THE    FEET  OF   THE   APOSTLES. 

TO  Anna,  in  the  house  of  Mary,  there  had  come 
peace. 

When  she  had  awakened  from  the  death-like  swoon 
in  which  she  had  sunken  at  the  feet  of  Caiaphas, 
to  find  herself  alone,  she  scarce  knew  at  first  what 
had  befallen  her.  But  memory,  too  faithful,  re- 
peated to  her  shrinking  soul  the  words  which  had 
struck  at  the  very  fountain  of  life ;  she  turned 
them  over  dully  in  her  mind,  "  As  I  would  cut  off 
my  right  hand,  should  it  become  polluted  beyond 
cleansing,  so  also  will  I  sever  thee  from  my 
life." 

"How  can  that  be,"  she  thought,  staring  at  the 
light  branches  of  a  rose  tree  that  swayed  from  the 
trellis  above  her  head  ;  the  sun  struck  vivid  sparks 
of  emerald  fire  from  its  translucent  leaves,  the 
breeze  shook  a  full-blown  blossom,  and  a  handful 


AT  THE  FEET  OF  THE  APOSTLES.        117 

of  the  odorous  petals  fell  upon  her  face.  She  in- 
haled their  fragrance  as  in  a  dream  of  pain. 

"  So  I  will  sever  thee  from  my  life,"  she  repeated, 
looking  at  the  shattered  rose.  "Ah,  it  can  never 
bloom  again  ! " 

And  with  the  thought  came  a  sudden  frightful 
realization  of  what  had  happened.  She  sprang  up 
and  looked  wildly  about  her.  "  I  must  find  him  ! 
It  cannot,  cannot  be!"  Then  she  sank  feebly 
upon  her  knees  beside  the  bench,  and  buried  her 
face  in  her  hands. 

Is  it  for  naught  that  misery  instinctively  as- 
sumes this  attitude  ?  Nay,  rather,  it  is  a  divine 
impulse  of  the  suffering  soul,  a  blind  and  voiceless 
feeling  after  a  hand  in  the  darkness.  And  the 
hand  is  always  there. 

To  Anna  thus  bowed  there  came  at  length  the 
thought  of  God,  of  Jesus,  the  all-Comforter;  of 
Stephen,  his  dark  eyes  full  of  loving  light ;  of 
Mary,  the  mother  of  Jesus,  like  herself,  desolate. 
And  presently,  though  she  scarce  knew  why,  she 
grew  quite  calm  and  strong.  She  arose.  "  I  will 
go,"  she  said  aloud,  "to  them;  they  will  tell  me 
what  I  must  do." 

And  so  it  was  that  she  came  to  the  house  of 
John,  the  beloved  disciple,  where  abode  Mary, 
whom  the  dying  Lord  had  given  into  his  keeping, 
and  with  them  Peter,  and  Andrew  his  brother, 
also  Stephen. 


u8  STEPHEN 

"I  am  desolate,"  she  said  humbly,  "for  my  hus- 
band hath  cast  me  off,  because  I  believe  that  the 
crucified  Jesus  is  the  Messiah  of  Israel." 

"Then  art  thou  welcome  here,"  said  the  master 
of  the  house,  gravely.  But  Mary  fell  on  her  neck 
and  kissed  her,  and  she  wept  with  her,  because  she 
knew  that  tears  are  healing,  if  only  they  be  wiped 
away  by  the  hand  of  God. 

And  so,  after  many  days,  there  came  to  her 
peace;  nay,  more,  there  came  joy.  Involuntarily 
songs  broke  from  her  lips,  lips  for  many  years 
silent ;  she  smiled  often  even  when  alone,  for  a 
strange  delight  filled  her  soul,  her  deep  eyes 
shone  like  stars. 

Stephen  saw  the  change  in  her  and  he  rejoiced. 

"The  Lord  is  with  thee,  mother  of  my  Titus," 
he  said,  tenderly. 

"  I  scarce  know  why  I  am  so  happy,"  she  replied. 
"  Is  it  meet  that  I  should  rejoice  when  my  son  is 
dead,  and  when  I  am  more  desolate  than  a  widow  ? " 

"  It  is  the  gift  of  him  who  sitteth  at  the  right 
hand  of  the  Father,"  said  Stephen.  "  Did  he  not 
say,  '  Peace  I  leave  with  you,  my  peace  I  give  unto 
you.  Not  as  the  world  giveth,  give  I  unto  you. 
Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be 
afraid.'  And  this  good  word  of  peace  he  left  with 
his  chosen  ones  on  the  very  night  before  his 
death.  The  world  cannot  give  peace  in  the  midst 


AT  THE  FEET  OF  THE  APOSTLES.        119 

of  sorrow,  but  he  can,  and  he  hath  given  it  unto 
thee,  beloved.  And  thou  dost  rejoice,  and  thy  joy 
shall  no  one  take  from  thee." 

"  But  my  husband  ?"  said  Anna  eagerly. 

"  Ask  the  Lord  that  it  may  be  granted  unto  him 
to  see  the  truth.  I  will  also  ask,  then  shall  it  be 
done  for  us  according  to  his  promise  which  cannot 
fail." 

"  And  he  will  again  love  me  ?" 

"  Love  is  the  fulfilling  of  the  law,"  said  Stephen, 
smiling.  "  He  will  again  love  thee,  and  the  love 
that  he  hath  had  is  as  nothing  to  that  God  will 
give  him,  for  God  is  love,  and  he  is  also  the  all- 
giver.  All  love  is  from  God,  and  without  it  would 
the  world  fall  from  its  place  in  the  heavens  into 
the  darkness  which  is  outside  of  love — if  indeed 
there  be  any  place  where  the  light  of  God  doth  not 
penetrate."  He  paused,  and  looked  thoughtfully 
away  into  the  sunset,  as  if  he  would  pierce  with  his 
longing  gaze  beyond  the  gold  and  the  crimson  to 
that  place  where  dwelt  the  risen  Lord. 

The  days  went  swiftly  in  this  new  life,  for  none 
were  idle.  Indeed,  there  was  never  a  company  of 
folk  since  the  world  began  into  whose  Hves  crowded 
more  of  service,  of  love,  of  joy.  The  sick,  the  un- 
happy, the  poor  from  all  the  city  and  the  country 
round  about  came  for  healing,  cheering,  help  ;  nor 
was  any  turned  away.  The  disciples  were  ever 


120  STEPHEN 

mindful  of  the  word  of  their  Lord,  "Freely  ye 
have  received,  freely  give."  They  remembered 
also  with  awe  how  he  had  washed  their  feet  on 
that  last  night  before  he  was  betrayed.  So  there 
was  no  service  too  lowly,  no  labor  too  arduous  for 
them  to  undertake  in  the  strength  of  their  new 
joy. 

"Did  he  not  say  unto  us,"  said  Peter,  his  face 
glowing  with  divine  enthusiasm,  " '  As  the  Father 
hath  sent  me  into  the  world,  even  so  send  I  you  ?'  " 

To  be  a  Christian  in  these  days  meant  simply  to 
live  as  Christ  had  lived.  And  so  the  women  were 
busy  from  dawn  until  evening  in  fashioning  gar- 
ments for  them  that  had  none ;  in  preparing  the 
simple  food,  which  they  ate  from  house  to  house 
with  gladness  and  singleness  of  heart,  every  meal 
a  memorial  feast  of  him  who  had  gone  to  prepare 
a  place  for  them  in  the  heavens.  And  the  men,  in 
proclaiming  the  amazing  tidings  of  salvation  from 
sin  in  a  world  given  over  to  sin,  of  joy  in  a  world 
wherein  was  weeping  and  pain  and  woe,  of  peace 
in  the  midst  of  strife,  of  a  great  light  that  had 
shined  in  the  darkness.  It  was  so  real,  so  wonder- 
ful, so  new.  -They  had  not  read  of  these  things  in 
an  ancient  book.  They  had  not  heard  them  with 
cold  dead  ears  'as  a  tale  that  is  told,'  but  they  had 
seen  the  Lord  living  and  walking  among  them;  they 
had  seenJiim  upon  the  cross;  they  had  seen  hun 


AT  THE  FEET  OF  THE  APOSTLES.       121 

in  the  tomb  dead — his  hands  and  feet  torn  with 
the  cruel  nails.  And  they  had  also  seen  him  alive 
again  and  received  into  the  glories  of  a  visible 
heaven.  Upon  their  heads  had  the  pentecostal 
flames  rested,  and  they  beheld  their  mortal  bodies 
endowed  with  divine  powers.  Little  wonder  then 
that  they  rejoiced,  little  wonder  that  a  holy  fear 
came  upon  every  soul  and  that  they  had  favor  with 
all  the  people.  Yet  for  our  comfort  is  it  written 
that  the  Lord  once  said  unto  Thomas,  "Because 
thou  hast  seen  me  thou  hast  believed ;  blessed  are 
they  that  have  not  seen  and  yet  have  believed." 

Now  because  very  many  that  were  poor  came  to 
the  disciples  to  be  fed,  and  because  the  apostles 
had  now  no  time  for  fishing,  being  made  fishers  of 
men  as  the  Lord  had  promised,  and  for  the  reason 
that  then  as  now  no  one  can  live  in  the  world  with- 
out money,  they  asked  of  the  Lord  concerning  this 
thing,  as  indeed  they  still  asked  about  alt  things 
just  as  when  he  was  on  the  earth.  And  it  became 
very  clear  to  them  what  they  must  do.  And  they 
did  it  in  all  simplicity  and  singleness  of  heart. 
They  that  had  lands  or  houses  sold  them,  and 
brought  the  price  of  the  things  that  were  sold  and 
laid  them  down  at  the  apostles'  feet,  and  distribu- 
tion was  made  unto  every  man  according  as  he  had 
need,  so  that  there  should  no  longer  be  among 
them  any  that  was  rich,  for  had  not  the  Lord  said 


122  STEPHEN 

to  the  young  ruler,  "  Go  sell  what  thou  hast  and 
give  to  the  poor,  and  thou  shalt  have  treasure  in 
heaven,"  and  also,  "  How  hardly  shall  they  that 
have  riches  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God."  And 
because  they  thought  much  about  heaven  in  those 
clays  and  because  they  longed  to  enter  into  the 
kingdom,  it  was  not  hard  for  some  of  the  rich  to  do 
this.  Their  possessions  were  as  nothing  to  them 
compared  with  the  riches  which  God  was  giving  so 
freely. 

"  He  is  the  same  yesterday,  to-day  and  forever." 
And  alas  !  humanity  is  the  same  yesterday  and  to- 
day, but  thank  God  for  the  to-morrow,  which  shall 
also  be  forever,  when  we  shall  be  like  him  ! 

There  was  in  Jerusalem  a  certain  man  named 
Ananias,  and  he  was  married  to  a  woman  called 
Sapphira.  They  had  heard  the  preaching  of  Peter 
and  they  believed,  and  came  and  joined  themselves 
to  the  church.  They  were  rich  people  and  owned 
land  outside  the  city.  Now  when  others  who  had 
possessions  sold  them  and  brought  the  money  to 
lay  at  the  apostles'  feet,  they  were  ill  pleased. 

"  Why  should  this  be  ? "  said  Ananias  to  his  wife. 
"  If  we  give  a  tithe  of  what  is  ours  is  not  that  all 
that  the  law  demands  ? " 

"  It  is  unjust,"  declared  Sapphira,  "  we  also  shall 
be  beggars  if  we  do  this  thing,  besides  it  hath  been 
told  me  that  the  scribes  and  elders  have  the  intent 


AT  THE  FEET  OF  THE  APOSTLES.       123 

to  crush  these  apostles  as  well  as  all  that  believe ; 
for  myself  I  have  no  mind  to  be  stoned." 

"  Let  us  withdraw  then." 

"  Nay,  not  so,  for  God  is  with  these  men  as  also 
thou  hast  seen,"  said  Sapphira.  "And  if  the  Mas- 
ter presently  come  back  from  heaven — as  indeed 
they  all  expect — he  will  establish  a  kingdom  here 
in  Jerusalem,  and  it  must  not  chance  that  we  be 
found  on  the  wrong  side  when  that  shall  come  to 
pass." 

"  They  do  not  demand  that  we  sell  our  lands," 
said  Ananias,  knitting  his  brows  thoughtfully. 
"  Let  us  be  prudent  and  reserve  our  possessions  till 
we  shall  see  what  is  going  to  befall." 

"Only  this  morning  Joses  brought  money  and 
laid  it  down  at  the  apostles'  feet,"  said  Sapphira. 
"  He  hath  sold  every  cubit  of  his  farm  in  the  hill 
country.  They  know  that  we  also  have  lands," 
she  added  fretfully,  "and  they  expect  that  we  will 
do  the  same.  There  are  already  five  thousand 
persons  in  the  church,  and  very  few  among  them 
own  earth  enough  to  be  buried  in." 

"  It  is  a  hard  case,"  whined  Ananias,  "  if  honest, 
industrious  folk  must  give  up  all  that  they  have  to 
beggars.  They  will  devour  it  up  like  grasshoppers ; 
as  for  us  who  have  given  it,  what  shall  we  have  for 
a  time  of  adversity,  or  for  our  old  age  ? " 

"  What   indeed  ? "    echoed   his   wife.     "  But   we 


i24  STEPHEN 

must  do  something  or  we  shall  be  talked  about. 
What  if — "  and  she  lowered  her  voice  to  a  whis- 
per— "we  sell  the  land,  and  also  freely  tell  of  the 
matter,  but  of  the  price  that  is  received  we  will 
give  a  part  only,  the  remainder  we  will  bestow  in 
safety  till  we  shall  ourselves  have  need  of  it." 

"  Thou  art  a  prudent  woman ! "  cried  her  hus- 
band. "  I  know  a  man  who  will  give  me  a  good 
price  for  the  land." 

"  Go  then  and  sell,  but  let  no  one  know  of  the 
amount  which  thou  receivest.  That  shall  be  secret 
betwixt  the  two  of  us.  The  man  Peter  shall  sup- 
pose that  we  have  given  all,  even  as  did  Joses." 

So  Ananias  went  and  sold  the  land  and  he  re- 
ceived for  it  a  goodly  sum.  Which  the  two  took 
secretly  and  buried  in  the  earth,  keeping  out  a  part 
only ;  this  the  woman  laid  in  her  lap. 

"  It  is  a  great  sum,"  she  said,  looking  regretfully 
at  the  pieces  of  silver.  "With  it  we  might  buy 
fine  raiment  for  ourselves ;  or  I  might  put  them 
upon  a  string  for  my  neck,  I  have  no  necklace." 

"Spoken  like  a  woman,  and  therefore  foolishly," 
said  Ananias,  lifting  a  handful  of  the  coins  and 
letting  them  slip  through  his  fingers  one  by  one. 
"  For  my  part  I  should  buy  a  vineyard.  One  could 
then  have  an  abundance  of  wine." 

"  Neither  of  these  things  can  be,"  said  Sapphira 
with  a  sigh.  "We  must  give  it,  else  when  the 


AT  THE  FEET  OF  THE  APOSTLES.       125 

Messiah  shall  come,  the  man  Peter  will  say,  'These 
people  having  land  sold  it,  but  gave  no  part  to 
us ; '  then  the  Messiah  will  give  us  neither  place 
nor  power." 

"Suppose  he  comes  not?"  said  the  man  dog- 
gedly. 

"  We  shall  at  least  stand  well  with  the  apostles 
and  the  rest.  They  be  all  prating  of  the  generosity 
of  Joses  to-day.  '  Such  a  man  !  So  holy  ! '  they 
cry.  To-morrow  they  shall  speak  of  us  also ;  what 
we  shall  give  will  be  much  more  than  his  paltry  bit 
of  silver."  And  the  woman  tossed  her  head. 

"Well,  I  will  give  it." 

"But  do  not  let  them  know  about  the  other," 
whispered  Sapphira. 

"Thou  mayest  trust  me  for  that !  "  said  the  man 
with  a  harsh  laugh. 

On  the  morrow,  when  all  were  gathered  together 
according  to  their  custom,  came  Ananias  bringing 
the  money — Sapphira  remaining  at  home  to  guard 
the  buried  treasure ;  and  he  laid  down  the  silver 
at  the  feet  of  Peter,  saying,  "  I  have  sold  my  lands 
for  the  service  of  the  Lord,  and  here  is  all  the 
price  of  them." 

And  the  people  looked  at  the  money  which  he 
had  laid  down,  and  they  marvelled  at  his  gener- 
osity, saying  one  to  another,  "Joses  truly  was 
righteous,  but  this  man  hath  brought  a  greater 
sum  than  he." 


126  STEPHEN 

But  Peter  fixed  his  inspired  eyes  upon  the  giver. 
He  read  his  soul.  And  he  said  to  him  :  "Ananias, 
why  hath  Satan  filled  thine  heart  to  lie  to  the  Holy 
Spirit,  and  keep  back  part  of  the  price  of  the  land  ? 
Whilst  it  remained  was  it  not  thine  own  ?  And 
after  it  was  sold,  was  it  not  in  thine  own  power  ? 
Why  hast  thou  conceived  this  thing  in  chine  heart  ? 
Thou  hast  not  lied  unto  men,  but  unto  God." 

And  when  Ananias  heard  these  words,  it  was  as 
though  the  light  of  God  had  been  flashed  into  his 
soul.  A  fierce  agony  fell  upon  him.  He  saw 
clearly  what  he  was,  and  what  God  was ;  and  be- 
cause this  may  not  be  endured  by  a  mortal,  he  fell 
down  at  the  feet  of  the  apostle  dead.  He  had 
passed  into  the  presence  of  that  Love  which  is  also 
a  consuming  fire. 

And  the  young  men  arose,  wound  up  his  body  in 
grave  clothes,  and  carried  it  away.  And  it  was 
about  the  space  of  three  hours  after  when  his  wife, 
not  knowing  what  was  done,  came  in.  And  Peter 
said  to  her,  "  Tell  me  whether  ye  sold  the  land  for 
fifty  shekels  ? " 

And  she  said,  "Yes,  for  fifty  shekels." 

Then  Peter  said  unto  her,  "  How  is  it  that  ye 
have  agreed  together  to  tempt  the  Spirit  of  the 

Lord  ?     Behold !    the  feet   of  them  which  buried 
I 

thy  husband  are  at  the  door,  and  shall  carry  thee 
out." 


AT  THE  FEET  OF  THE  APOSTLES.       127 

Then  fell  she  down  straightway  at  his  feet  and 
expired,  and  the  young  men  came  in  and  found 
her  dead,  and  carrying  her  forth,  buried  her  by 
her  husband.  And  great  fear  came  upon  all 
the  church,  and  upon  as  many  as  heard  these 
things. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

A   CUP   OF    COLD    WATER. 

THEN  the  beast  is  not  thine  own  ? " 
"  I  have  said  that  it  belongs  to  Abu  Ben 
Hesed,  who  dwells  in  the  wilderness  of  Shur.  For 
this  journey  alone  was  it  ours.  I  must  return  it  to 
its  owner  after  that  I  have  accomplished  mine 
errand  in  yonder  city." 

The  man  looked  at  the  boy  steadily  for  a  full 
minute ;  a  slight  smile  curled  the  corners  of  his 
lips,  but  he  turned  his  head  so  that  the  lad  should 
not  see  it.  "  And  thy  business  in  Jerusalem,  what 
might  it  be  ?  Thou  art  perhaps  a  merchant  seek- 
ing goodly  pearls,  or  a  purchaser  of  slaves,  or — 
perhaps  a  pilgrim  ? " 

"  My  business  is  naught  to  thee ;  I  have  asked  of 
thee  a  question,  wilt  thou  care  for  the  beast  till  I 
shall  return  ?  I  will  pay  thee  for  it." 

The  man  ran  his  eyes  once  more  over  the  white 
(128) 


A  CUP  OF  COLD  WATER.  129 

dromedary,  she  shook  herself  and  all  the  silver  bells 
of  the  bridle  rang  merrily.  "  I  will  take  care  of 
her,"  he  said,  nodding  his  head  once  or  twice  and 
smiling  again  broadly ;  "  and  when  wilt  thou  be 
pleased  to  return  ? " 

"  This  very  day  at  evening,  if  I  shall  find  the  man 
I  would  see.  His  name  is  Jesus.  Canst  thou  tell 
me  where  to  find  him  ? " 

"  There  be  half  a  score  of  that  name  in  the  city. 
Dost  thou  mean  Jesus  Barabbas?"  and  the  man 
laughed  aloud,  as  if  his  thoughts  afforded  him 
secret  pleasure. 

"  Is  he  a  magician  ? "  asked  the  lad  eagerly. 

"  A  magician  ?  Dost  thou  mean  a  man  whom  the 
gods  granted  to  be  born  under  a  lucky  star  ? " 

"Assuredly!" 

"Then  he  is  the  man." 

"  What  is  thy  name  ? "  broke  in  a  clear  sweet 
voice. 

"My  name?"  said  the  man  looking  startled, 
"Oh,  'tis  thou,  maiden.  My  name  is  Gestas,  my 
pretty  one.  Why  dost  thou  ask  ? " 

"  That  we  may  find  thee  when  we  shall  return 
from  the  city.  Can  this  Jesus  Barabbas  of  whom 
thou  hast  spoken  heal  blindness  ? " 

"  Art  thou  blind  ?" 

"Yes  I  am  blind;  I  would  be  healed,  and  I  have 
heard  that  a  man  named  Jesus  can  heal  blindness." 
9 


130  STEPHEN 

The  man  looked  soberly  for  a  moment  at  her 
blank  eyes,  he  opened  his  lips  as  if  to  speak,  then 
scratching  his  shaggy  head  reflectively,  he  again 
glanced  at  the  white  dromedary.  "Go  into  the 
city,"  he  said  at  length,  "  and  ask  for  the  man,  some 
one  will  tell  thee ;  I  will  care  for  the  beast  whilst 
thou  art  gone." 

"  Come,  Anat,  let  us  make  haste,"  cried  the  lad 
joyfully.  "  We  must  find  him  at  once." 

So  the  two  went  away  towards  Jerusalem,  which 
lay  not  far  distant,  its  walls  and  towers  gleaming  as 
whitely  as  though  no  lurid  shadow  of  destruction 
hung  from  the  avenging  heavens  above  it. 

As  for  the  man  whose  name  was  Gestas,  he 
laughed  aloud  as  he  seized  the  stately  Mirah  by  the 
bridle.  "Truly  the  gods  love  me,"  he  said.  "This 
beast  will  bring  a  goodly  sum,"  and  he  struck  the 
white  dromedary  across  the  face  with  his  staff  in 
order  to  let  her  know  that  she  had  a  new  master. 

"  Yonder  is  a  venerable  man,"  said  Seth  to  the 
blind  girl,  when  the  two  had  entered  within  the 
gate,  and  he  ran  forward  and  plucked  the  man  by 
the  sleeve. 

"Canst  thou  tell  me  where  to  find  the  man 
Jesus,  who  can  heal  blindness?" 

The  old  man  turned  upon  the  lad  with  blazing 
eyes.  "Beggar!"  he  cried,  "get  thee  gone  !  How 
dost  thou  dare  pollute  mine  ears  with  that  name  ?" 


A  CUP  OF  COLD  WATER.  131 

Seth  stared  at  him  in  amaze  as  he  strode  on- 
ward, muttering  angrily  to  himself,  his  snowy 
beard  blowing  over  his  shoulder  in  the  light  breeze. 

"By  the  sacred  Nile!"  he  exclaimed,  "in  what 
have  I  offended  ?  Praise  be  to  the  gods,  they  have 
no  such  customs  in  Memphis.  Well,  I  must  even 
ask  another." 

Taking  the  blind  girl  once  more  by  the  hand, 
they  walked  a  little  further  on.  It  was  as  yet  early 
in  the  day,  but  the  streets  were  alive  with  people 
hurrying  to  and  fro.  Merchants  sitting  comfort- 
ably at  their  stalls  cried  lustily  to  the  passers-by 
to  come  buy  of  their  goods ;  beggars  whined  out 
their  piteous  tales  of  woe,  and  displayed  their 
gruesome  deformities  to  the  averted  eyes  of  the 
hurrying  crowd  ;  water-carriers  clinked  their  brazen 
cups  and  bawled  loudly  of  the  cooling  draughts 
which  they  carried  in  the  goat-skins  upon  their 
backs.  Once  the  two  adventurers  had  to  squeeze 
themselves  back  into  an  angle  of  the  wall,  while 
a  platoon  of  Roman  soldiers  marched  by,  the  sun 
glittering  in  dazzling  splendor  on  their  burnished 
shields. 

Seth's  heart  had  suddenly  grown  heavy  within 
him,  though  he  could  sgarce  have  told  the  reason. 
He  almost  feared  to  ask  the  question  which  hov- 
ered upon  his  lips  of  any  of  these  busy,  indifferent- 
looking  people.  Presently  his  eyes  fell  upon  a 


132  STEPHEN 

blind  man,  feeling  his  way  slowly  along  with  a  staff 
and  whining  out  a  dolorous  cry  for  alms  as  he  went. 
His  heart  sank  lower  still.  "  If  there  is  a  great 
magician  who  can  heal  blindness  in  this  place,"  he 
thought,  "why  is  not  this  man  seeking  him  ? " 

Darting  forward,  he  touched  him  upon  the  sleeve. 
"  Canst  thou  tell  me,"  he  said  timidly,  "  if  there  is 
a  man  called  Jesus  anywhere  about — a  man  who 
can  heal  blindness  ? " 

The  beggar  stopped  short  and  turned  his  head. 
"There  was  such  a  man,"  he  said,  "but  he  is  dead 
— crucified,  three  months  since.  I  never  found 
him,"  he  added  bitterly ;  "  I  came  too  late."  Then 
he  went  on  his  way,  and  the  boy  heard  his  shrill 
voice  rising  and  falling  dismally  adown  the  street. 
He  stood  still  in  the  place  where  he  was,  staring 
stupidly  after  the  man,  the  words  "too  late"  still 
echoing  in  his  ears. 

"  Curses  upon  thy  stupid  head  !  Why  dost  thou 
block  the  roadway  ? "  And  a  smart  blow  across 
his  cheek  from  the  whip  of  a  muleteer  served  to 
bring  him  to  his  senses.  At  the  same  moment  he 
heard  a  cry  from  Anat ;  looking  quickly  around  he 
saw  her  fall  to  the  ground  beneath  the  hoofs  of  the 
laden  ass  which  the  man  was  driving. 

With  a  shrill  cry  of  fear  the  lad  sprang  forward, 
and  dragged  the  girl  out  from  among  the  confused 
tangle  of  men  and  animals,  the  muleteer  shrieking 


A  CUP  OF  COLD  WA  TER.  133 

curses  upon  him,  the  other  passers-by  merely  paus- 
ing an  instant  to  stare  curiously  at  the  scene. 
No  one  offered  to  help  him,  and  cold  with  fear  he 
lifted  the  slender  form  in  his  arms. 

There  was  a  projecting  arch  near  by,  with  a  great 
doorway  sunken  deep  into  the  wall  of  masonry,  in 
the  shelter  of  this  he  laid  his  burden  down,  and 
looked  into  the  beloved  face  in  a  very  agony  of 
terror. 

"Anat!  Anat ! "  he  cried,  bending  over  her. 
But  there  was  no  answer;  the  peach-like  bloom 
of  the  brown  cheeks  had  changed  to  a  curious 
dusky  pallor,  the  fringed  lids  had  fallen  over  the 
sightless  eyes,  the  slender  hands  were  cold. 

"Anat!  Anat!"  he  repeated  in  a  frenzy. 
"Awake ! "  and  he  shook  her  by  the  arm,  scarce 
knowing  what  he  did.  "  My  God  !  if  she  is  dead  ! " 

Just  then  with  a  harsh  sound  of  rusty  hinges  the 
great  door  behind  them  swung  open,  and  a  tur- 
baned  head  peered  cautiously  out.  The  lad  started 
to  his  feet  with  sudden  hope.  "  Kind  sir ! "  he  said 
beseechingly.  "My  sister  hath  been  grievously 
hurt ;  nay,  I  know  not  if  she  be  alive.  Wilt  thou 
give  me  a  cup  of  water  that  I  may  try  and  bring 
back  her  soul  ? " 

The  man  looked  at  him  coldly.  "  This  is  the 
house  of  God,"  he  said.  "  'Tis  not  meet  that  its 
threshold  be  defiled  with  that  which  is  dead,  'tis  an 


i34  STEPHEN 

abomination  in  the  sight  of  Jehovah.  Get  thee 
hence,  the  hour  for  prayer  draweth  nigh." 

"  Nay,  but  I  beseech  thee,  by  the  love  of  Isis ! 
Give  me  but  a  cup — a  small  cup  of  water ! " 

"  Get  thee  hence  !  "  said  the  man  with  a  gesture 
of  abhorrence.  "  There  is  naught  here  for  such  as 
thou,"  and  he  made  as  though  he  would  have 
pushed  the  senseless  form  of  the  blind  girl  into 
the  street  with  his  foot. 

Seth's  eyes  blazed.  "  The  curses  of  Sechet  light 
upon  thee!"  he  cried  fiercely;  "thou  hast  the 
withered  heart  of  a  mummy  a  thousand  years 
dead ! "  Then  he  caught  up  his  burden  once  more 
and  fled  away,  the  furious  imprecations  of  the  Jew 
sounding  in  his  ears. 

Hurrying  blindly  forward,  he  neither  knew  nor 
cared  whither  he  was  going,  but  he  became  con- 
scious after  a  few  moments  that  he  had  come  into 
a  quieter  place.  With  a  dim  sense  of  relief  he 
once  more  laid  the  limp  figure  down  upon  the 
pavement ;  this  time,  to  his  great  joy,  he  heard  a 
faint  sound.  She  was  trying  to  speak.  He  kneeled 
at  her  side  and  lifted  her  head  to  his  knees. 
"Water!  Water!"  she  moaned  feebly. 

He  looked  distractedly  about  him.  The  long 
narrow  street  was  suffocatingly  hot,  on  either  side 
of  it  stretched  blank  walls  of  rough-hewn  masonry, 
pierced  occasionally  with  a  deep-set  door ;  two  or 


A  CUP  OF  COLD  WA  TER.  135 

three  dogs  skulked  in  the  black  shadow  of  an  arch- 
way near  by,  and  a  flock  of  swallows  swooped  back 
and  forth  in  the  dazzling  sunshine,  crying  out  to 
each  other  with  wild  sweetness,  but  there  was  no 
human  being  in  sight.  He  could  hear  the  distant 
cries  of  the  venders,  and  the  shouts  of  the  mule- 
teers from  the  busy  street  which  he  had  just  left. 
It  seemed  to  him  presently,  as  he  listened,  that 
somewhere  near  by  he  could  hear  the  cool  tinkle  of 
a  fountain  ;  he  looked  up,  from  the  top  of  the  wall 
above  his  head  there  fluttered  a  glimmer  of  green 
leaves.  There  must  be — there  was  a  garden  there, 
and  water,  he  was  sure  of  it.  He  sprang  up,  and 
laying  Anat's  head  carefully  down,  pulled  impa- 
tiently at  the  bell  which  hung  at  the  side  of  one 
of  the  sunken  doorways.  After  a  long  delay,  every 
minute  of  which  seemed  a  separate  eternity  to  the 
boy,  a  panel  in  the  door  swung  open,  and  the  head 
of  a  man  was  thrust  out. 

"What  wilt  thou?"  he  said  in  a  surly  tone,  as 
his  eye  fell  upon  the  boy. 

"  Water !  for  the  love  of  all  the  gods,  water ! 
my " 

"What  dost  thou  mean,  fellow,"  interrupted  the 
man,  scowling,  "by  coming  to  the  palace  of  the 
High  Priest  for  water?  The  public  fountains  are 
for  such  as  thou."  And  without  further  ado  he 
shut  the  door  with  a  decisive  clap. 


136  STEPHEN 

Seth  stood  for  a  moment  as  if  stunned,  then  he 
threw  himself  down  upon  the  hot  stones  with  a 
smothered  cry  of  despair,  and  bowed  his  head  upon 
his  knees.  After  what  seemed  a  long  time  a  touch 
upon  his  shoulder  aroused  him,  he  looked  up  dully, 
his  eyes  red  with  weeping. 

"What  aileth  thee,  lad?" 

He  stared  at  the  face  of  his  questioner  without 
answering.  It  was  like  no  other  face  he  had  ever 
seen,  and  yet,  strangely  enough,  something  in  the 
dark  eyes  brought  back  to  him  the  dim  memory  of 
his  mother.  The  young  man — for  it  was  a  young 
man  who  had  spoken — repeated  his  question,  and 
this  time  the  lad  answered. 

"  My  sister  hath  been  trampled  upon  by  a  beast 
of  burden.  She  is  dying  for  water,  no  one  will 
help  me,  my  bottle  is  empty,  and  I  know  not  where 
to  find  a  fountain." 

But  the  stranger  did  not  wait  to  hear  all,  he  was 
already  sprinkling  the  face  of  the  girl,  who  had 
again  lapsed  into  unconsciousness. 

"She  is  not  much  hurt,  he  said  at  length.  "See, 
she  is  reviving  already."  And  indeed  under  his 
skilful  ministrations  the  color  had  begun  to  return 
to  the  cheeks  and  lips  of  the  injured  girl. 

"  But  she  is  blind,"  said  Seth,  looking  up  wist- 
fully into  the  face  of  the  young  man,  "and  we 
have  come  from  Egypt,  seeking  for  the  man  Jesus 


A  CUP  OF  CCLD  WA  TER,  137 

who  can  heal  such.  A  beggar  told  me  that  he 
was  dead,  but  it  is  not  true?" 

The  face  of  the  stranger  glowed  with  a  smile  so 
angelic  that  the  lad  involuntarily  cried  out  with 
wonder. 

"Nay,"  he  cried,  "he  is  not  dead,  he  liveth  for- 
ever more  at  the  right  hand  of  God." 

Then  he  fixed  his  eyes  upon  the  lad.  "Tell  me," 
he  said  gravely,  "  all  that  hath  befallen  thee,  and 
how  it  is  that  ye  seek  Jesus  in  this  far  country." 

So  the  lad  told  him  all.  How  that  their  parents 
had  passed  into  the  regions  of  the  dead,  leaving 
them  alone ;  and  how  for  many  years  he  had  cared 
for  his  blind  sister ;  of  the  man  who  would  have 
sold  them  into  bondage,  and  how  fleeing  from 
before  his  face  they  had  first  heard  of  the  man 
who  could  heal  blindness  ;  of  their  awful  journey 
in  the  wilderness ;  of  their  deliverance  from  the 
vultures,  and  their  escape  from  the  hand  of  Pagiel. 
When  he  ceased  from  speaking,  the  young  man 
was  silent  for  a  space. 

"  Of  a  surety,"  he  said  at  length,  "  the  Lord  hath 
led  thee."  Then  raising  his  head  he  looked  up 
into  the  dazzling  blue  of  the  sky. 

"Thou  who  hast  said,  '  Lo,  I  am  with  thee  alway 
even  unto  the  end  of  the  world,'  look  now  upon 
this  child  who  hath  sought  thee  for  healing, 
through  weariness,  and  thirst,  and  pain,  lo,  these 


138  STEPHEN 

many  days ;  and  heal  her,  I  beseech  thee,  by  the 
hand  of  thy  servant,  according  to  her  great  faith." 

Then  stooping,  while  the  lad  held  his  breath  with 
awe,  he  laid  his  hand  lightly,  tenderly,  upon  the 
sightless  eyes  of  Anat.  "  In  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Nazareth,"  he  murmured,  "receive  thy 
sight." 

And  into  the  dark  eyes  of  the  maiden,  erstwhile 
as  irresponsive  as  soulless  jewels,  there  flashed  a 
look  of  intelligence.  She  gazed  steadfastly  into  the 
eyes  of  the  stranger. 

"  Art  thou  the  man  Jesus  ? "  she  whispered 
softly. 

"  Nay,  my  child,"  he  answered,  "  I  am  but  his 
servant  Stephen." 


CHAPTER  XV. 

IN    PURSUIT   OF    THE    FUGITIVES. 

TO  Abu  Ben  Hesed,  sitting,  as  was  his  wont  at 
the  sunset  hour,  in  the  door  of  his  tent, 
came  Pagiel.  It  was  the  evening  of  the  fourth 
day  after  he  had  seen  the  two  children  disappear 
from  out  his  sight  on  the  back  of  the  white  drom- 
edary. He  had  not  made  haste  to  return ;  he 
needed  time  to  think,  for  he  was  slow-witted,  and 
the  matter  in  hand  was  weighty. 

"There  is  no  place  like  the  solitude  of  the  wil- 
derness for  meditation,"  quoth  Pagiel.  So  he  abode 
quietly  in  the  place  where  he  was  for  one  full  day. 
Not  so  the  son  of  Kish  the  herdsman  ;  he  was  im- 
patient. 

"  Let  me  return,  I  beseech  thee,"  he  said  to 
Pagiel,  "  I  would  fain  look  upon  the  face  of  my 
bride." 

"What   art   thou  saying,    man?"   cried    Pagiel 


1 40  STEPHEN 

hotly.  "  Dost  thou  think  that  now  I  shall  give  to 
thee  my  daughter?  Our  matter  is  ended." 

But  Ben  Kish  loved  the  daughter  of  Pagiel ;  he 
was  therefore  bold  and  determined.  Moreover,  he 
saw  that  the  man  was  afraid  to  return.  "  My 
father  is  wroth,"  he  said,  "  because  the  two  Egyp- 
tians have  fled  away  with  the  beast.  I  will  return 
to  my  lord  and  I  will  tell  him  what  they  have  done. 
Surely  it  was  meet  that  such  should  be  sold  into 
slavery  and  that  their  value  be  given  the  daughter 
of  Pagiel  for  her  dowry." 

"  Nay,  thou  shalt  not  return  !  "  cried  Pagiel.  "  If 
the  thing  be  told  Ben  Hesed  then  should  I  be  cut 
off  from  among  my  kinsfolk  and  brethren." 

Ben  Kish  smiled.  "Is  it  better  for  thee  to  be 
thus  cut  off,"  he  said,  "or  to  have  for  thy  son  the 
son  of  Kish  ?  For  of  these  two  things,  one  shall 
assuredly  come  to  pass." 

"Swear  to  me  that  thou  wilt  keep  the  thing 
secret,"  said  Pagiel,  "and  I  will  give  thee  my 
daughter,  even  as  I  have  said." 

"Swear  to  me  that  thou  wilt  give  me  thy  daugh- 
ter," replied  Ben  Kish,  "  and  I  will  keep  the  thing 
secret." 

So  they  both  sware  a  great  oath ;  and  they 
builded  that  day  of  the  stones  of  the  place  a  me- 
morial, in  token  that  as  the  stones  which  endure 
without  change,  even  so  must  their  compact  re- 


IN  PURSUIT  OF  THE  FUGITIVES.          141 

main.  Then  they  gat  them  up  and  made  haste  to 
return,  and  the  son  of  Kish  laughed  within  himself 
because  he  had  prevailed ;  but  Pagiel  was  so  busy 
inventing  a  tale  which  should  explain  the  loss  of 
the  white  dromedary,  that  he  thought  no  more  of 
the  matter. 

"Ben  Hesed  is  a  hard  man,"  he  thought.  "If 
I  say  thieves  came  and  stole  the  beast  while  we 
were  returning,  he  will  say,  'Why  then  didst  thou 
not  pursue  and  slay  them  ?  Thou  hast  no  wounds. ' 
If  I  say  the  beast  fled  away  from  us  into  the  desert, 
he  will  laugh  me  to  scorn.  Nay,  I  will  tell  him 
the  truth  ;  it  is  after  all  best ;  moreover,  God  lov- 
eth  a  truthful  man.  I  will  say  this  ;  the  Egyptian 
brats  rose  up  whilst  we  were  asleep  in  the  midst  of 
the  day,  and  they  took  the  beast  and  fled.  We 
pursued  them  also  till  the  going  down  of  the  sun, 
but  could  not  overtake  them." 

So  he  told  Ben  Hesed  this,  and  when  he  had 
done  speaking  he  waited  to  hear  what  his  lord 
should  say.  For  a  long  time  he  said  nothing,  be- 
cause he  was  very  angry,  and  it  was  his  wont  to 
refrain  from  speaking  when  he  was  thus  dis- 
quieted. 

"Shall  a  man  rage  like  a  wild  beast  ?"  he  would 
say.  "Nay,  for  in  so  doing  he  is  no  longer  a  man  ; 
let  him  rather  remain  silent,  remembering  that 
God  made  him  in  his  own  image.  The  heavens 


i42  STEPHEN 

are  voiceless  even  when  the  earth  beneath  runs 
red  with  blood.  Men  blaspheme  the  name  of 
Jehovah,  yet  is  there  no  answering  bolt  of  wrath 
to  slay  them.  Let  us  then  be  patient  as  befits 
them  that  are  but  a  little  lower  than  the  angels, 
created  in  the  likeness  of  the  Eternal  One." 

On  this  occasion  Ben  Hesed  was  silent  so  long 
that  Pagiel  was  frightened  ;  he  had  bowed  himself 
to  the  earth,  and  he  still  remained  in  this  humble 
posture  that  he  might  escape  the  lightnings  which 
leapt  up  in  his  lord's  eyes  as  he  heard  the  tale. 

After  a  time  he  became  very  uncomfortable,  the 
sand  on  which  his  forehead  rested  was  hot,  his 
knees  shook  beneath  him.  "Why  do  I  abase  my- 
self before  this  man,"  he  said  within  himself.  At 
the  thought  he  too  grew  angry,  and  because  anger 
is  stronger  than  fear,  he  leapt  up  and  stood  before 
Ben  Hesed. 

Ben  Hesed  also  arose.  "  I  will  myself  pursue 
these  Egyptians,"  he  said,  and  I  will  bring  them 
again  into  the  wilderness ;  the  wilderness  shall 
avenge  me." 

Then  he  made  haste  and  gat  him  gone  within 
the  hour,  but  Pagiel  remained  behind  ;  he  had  now 
the  matter  of  the  marriage  in  hand.  Remember- 
ing this  as  he  went  to  his  own  tent,  he  again  tore 
his  beard  and  cried  aloud  to  God  to  help  him  in 
his  extremity.  But  for  the  life  of  him  he  could 


IN  PURSUIT  OF  THE  FUGITIVES.         143 

think  of  no  other  word  save  that  which  the  psalm- 
ist David  wrote, 

"  The  wicked  plotteth  against  the  just 
And  gnasheth  upon  him  with  his  teeth, 
But  the  Lord  shall  laugh  at  him, 
For  he  seeth  that  his  day  is  coming." 

And  in  this  there  was  so  little  comfort  that  he 
prayed  no  more. 

Ben  Hesed  arrived  at  the  borders  of  Judaea 
after  a  journey  which  consumed  but  half  the  usual 
time,  for  he  tarried  not  to  rest  at  noontide  nor  at 
night.  Once  beyond  the  river  he  began  to  make 
inquiry  among  the  people  concerning  the  white 
dromedary,  and  because  beasts  of  that  sort  and 
color  not  often  passed  that  way  he  soon  found 
them  that  had  seen  her.  In  this  place  had  the 
runaways  stayed  for  a  night ;  in  another  had  they 
bartered  a  coin  from  the  girl's  necklace  for  prov- 
ender for  the  beast. 

"At  least  they  have  not  abused  the  animal," 
said  Ben  Hesed  to  himself,  and  insensibly  his 
anger  cooled  day  by  day. 

"  I  shall  hear  what  the  lad  hath  to  say  before  I 
pass  judgment  upon  him,"  he  said  to  his  son  who 
accompanied  him.  "  It  is  best  to  look  at  both 
sides  of  a  matter — yea,  and  within  it  also.  When 
a  man  hath  done  this  to  the  best  of  his  ability  how 
far  short  doth  he  fall  of  the  complete  knowledge 


144  STEPHEN 

of  God,  who  made  the  soul  and  to  whom  it  lieth 
open  like  a  parchment  that  is  unrolled ;  therefore 
should  man  leave  punishments  to  God.  I  will  not 
lift  my  hand  against  the  two  as  I  at  first  purposed 
in  my  heart ;  and  in  this  thou  seest,  my  son,  how 
wise  it  is  to  make  haste  slowly  in  matters  that  per- 
tain to  revenge.  The  hours  that  pass  cool  the 
angry  heart  even  as  drops  of  rain  quench  the  glow- 
ing coals.  This  is  good  ;  a  year  from  now  I  shall 
think  little  of  the  loss  of  the  beast,  and  if  I  shew 
mercy  it  will  endure  in  my  heart  for  many  years  as 
a  sweet  savor.  Look  always  at  a  present  calamity 
as  if  it  had  happened  many  moons  since,  then 
shalt  thou  be  able  to  judge  whether  it  be  worth 
thy  while  to  be  angry  and  to  avenge  thyself." 

Beguiling  the  way  with  good  words  of  the  like, 
and  at  the  same  time  keeping  a  wary  eye  out  for 
the  white  dromedary,  the  worthy  man  journeyed 
on  towards  Jerusalem,  for  it  was  there  that  he  con- 
fidently expected  to  find  the  fugitives. 

When  at  length  they  came  within  sight  of  the 
holy  city,  lying  fair  and  white  amid  the  green  and 
gentle  mountain  slopes,  the  travelers  were  amazed 
to  see  the  numbers  of  folk  who  were  going  into  it 
by  every  road. 

"What  may  this  mean ?"  said  Ben  Hesed.  "It 
is  not  feast  time."  Presently  they  passed  one  of 
these  companies,  and  they  saw  that  in  the  midst 


IN  PURSUIT  OF  THE  FUGITIVES.          145 

was  a  sick  man  on  his  litter;  he  was  groaning 
dismally  as  his  bed  shook  beneath  him  with  the 
unevenness  of  the  way. 

"  Why  dost  thou  fetch  this  man  into  Jerusalem  ?" 
asked  Ben  Hesed  of  the  bearers. 

"To  be  healed,"  they  answered  him.  "Happy 
shall  we  be  if  we  get  him  there  alive;  already  this 
is  the  third  day  since  we  started  with  him,  and 
death  pursueth  after  us  faster  than  we  can 
journey." 

Ben  Hesed  marvelled  at  their  answer,  but  he  for- 
bore to  question  them  further,  for  he  saw  that  they 
had  no  mind  to  talk.  Presently  he  came  upon  a 
woman  sitting  by  the  wayside  and  weeping  bitterly. 

"Why  dost  thou  weep,  woman?"  he  asked  of 
her,  for  he  was  not  of  those  who  reckoned  it  a  de- 
filement to  speak  to  a  woman. 

"  I  weep,"  she  answered  him,  "  because,  although 
I  am  in  sight  of  the  Holy  City,  I  can  go  no  fur- 
ther and  my  child  must,  after  all,  perish." 

She  thrust  out  her  feet  from  beneath  her  robe, 
and  Ben  Hesed  saw  that  they  were  horribly  bruised, 
cut  and  blistered,  as  if  she  had  walked  a  long  way. 
As  for  the  child,  it  lay  waxen-faced  and  silent  in 
her  arms,  the  purple  eyelids  half  dropped  over  the 
dull  eyes.  Ben  Hesed  shook  his  head  gravely  as 
he  looked  at  it ;  it  seemed  to  him  that  it  was  be- 
yond help. 


146  STEPHEN 

"Thou  shalt  ride  upon  my  beast,"  he  said,  "and 
thus  reach  the  city  speedily.  I  will  walk  beside 
thee." 

The  woman  smiled  through  her  tears.  "  Now 
may  the  God  of  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob  bless 
thee ! "  she  cried ;  then  she  looked  down  at  her 
babe,  and  her  face  whitened.  "It  may  be  too 
late,"  she  murmured. 

"From  whence  hast  thou  come?"  asked  Ben 
Hesed  gently. 

"  From  beyond  Jordan,  in  the  hill  country.  I 
heard  of  what  was  being  done  in  Jerusalem,  and  so 
when  my  babe  sickened  I  rose  up  with  him  and 
hastened  to  come  hither,  but  the  sickness  hath 
increased  by  the  way.  I  fear " 

"The  man  Jesus  is  of  great  power,"  interrupted 
Ben  Hesed  hastily.  "  It  hath  been  said  of  him 
that  he  hath  even  raised  the  dead." 

The  woman  looked  startled.  "  Thou  art,  then,  a 
stranger  in  these  parts,"  she  said,  "and  hast  not 
heard  what  hath  come  to  pass  of  late  in  Jerusalem  ?" 

"  I  am  from  the  wilderness ;  what  is  it  that  hath 
come  to  pass  ?  " 

"The  man  Jesus  hath  been  slain — crucified!" 
said  the  woman,  her  heavy  eyes  blazing  with  indig- 
nation. 

Ben  Hesed  was  silent  for  a  moment.  "  Why  did 
they  slay  him  ? "  he  asked  at  length. 


IN  PURSUIT  OF  THE  FUGITIVES.          147 

"  Nay,  I  know  not,"  said  the  woman  wearily, 
folding  the  child  close  to  her  bosom.  "I  saw  him 
once  in  my  own  village.  He  did  there  many 
mighty  works  of  healing,  and  of  the  things  which 
he  said,  I  remember  much  even  to  this  day.  He 
was  a  great  prophet,  and  now  is  his  power  fallen 
on  his  disciples,  even  as  the  mantle  of  Elijah  fell 
upon  Elisha  when  he  ascended  in  the  chariot  of 
fire  and  had,  therefore,  no  further  need  of  a  mantle." 

Ben  Hesed  looked  once  more  at  the  city  to  which 
they  were  now  drawing  very  near.  "  Thus  saith 
the  Lord  God,"  he  murmured,  "This  is  Jerusalem  ; 
I  have  set  it  in  the  midst  of  the  nations  and  coun- 
tries that  are  round  about  her.  The  end  is  at 
hand,  behold  it  watcheth  for  thee,  O  thou  that 
dwellest  in  the  land  !  The  time  is  come,  the  day 
of  trouble  is  near.  Now  will  I  shortly  pour  out 
my  fury  upon  thee  and  accomplish  my  anger 
upon  thee.  And  I  will  judge  thee  according 
to  thy  ways,  and  will  recompense  thee  for  all 
thine  abominations,  for  the  land  is  full  of  bloody 
crimes,  and  the  city  is  full  of  violence." 

And  when  they  were  now  come  to  the  gates, 
they  had  much  ado  to  enter  in,  because  of  the 
great  multitude  of  the  sick,  lame  and  blind  which 
were  coming  from  every  quarter.  The  streets 
were  filled  with  them,  and  with  the  noise  of  their 
groaning  and  wailing.  Ben  Hesed,  his  son  and  his 


148  STEPHEN 

two  servants,  together  with  the  woman,  who  still 
held  the  quiet  child  close  to  her  bosom,  followed 
on  with  the  others. 

After  a  time  it  became  impossible  to  proceed 
further,  so  they  waited  where  they  were.  Near 
them  two  men  were  holding  a  demoniac,  who  bel- 
lowed loudly  from  time  to  time,  and  tore  at  his 
clothes,  which  were  already  in  ribbons,  and  at  the 
hair  and  faces  of  his  guardians.  A  little  further 
on,  the  keen  eye  of  Ben  Hesed  descried  a  palsied 
man  lying  on  his  bed,  his  emaciated  face  the  color 
of  death.  Beyond  him  were  a  group  of  blind  men, 
waiting  with  the  hopeless  apathy  of  accustomed 
misery  for  something,  they  scarce  knew  what. 
Save  for  the  moans  and  cries  of  the  sick  ones 
there  was  scarcely  a  sound ;  the  sun  beat  fiercely 
down  from  above,  the  yellow  dust  rose  in  stifling 
clouds  from  beneath,  and  still  they  waited. 

At  length  from  somewhere  afar  off  there  rose  a 
cry — a  wild,  jubilant,  inarticulate  sound ;  a  deep 
answering  murmur  arose  from  the  ghastly  throng 
of  sufferers  about  them.  This  strange  pean  of 
joy  rose  and  fell,  now  swelling  loudly,  now  dying 
away,  but  always  drawing  nearer.  Ben  Hesed 
looked  at  the  woman  ;  she  was  fumbling  wildly  at 
the  wrappings  which  swathed  her  babe ;  she  bent 
her  head  as  if  to  listen  at  his  tiny  chest. 

"  My  God ! "  she  cried,  "  it   is  too  late ;  he  is 


IN  PURSUIT  OF  THE  FUGITIVES.          149 

dead."  Then  she  dropped  back  breathless  and 
waxen  as  the  little  form  which  she  still  held  close 
in  her  arms. 

Ben  Hesed  caught  her  as  she  fell ;  he  looked 
about  him  for  help. 

"  Here  is  water,"  said  a  voice  at  his  side,  and 
looking  up  he  saw,  to  his  intense  astonishment, 
Seth,  the  Egyptian  lad.  At  the  same  moment  the 
boy  recognized  him,  and  started  back  with  a  little 
cry. 

"  This  is  no  time  to  speak  of  what  concerneth 
thee  and  me,"  said  Ben  Hesed  sternly.  "  Give  me 
the  water  !  "  And  he  fell  to  sprinkling  the  face  of 
the  woman  with  no  sparing  hand. 

"They  are  coming!"  shouted  the  lad.  "Stay! 
I  will  bring  him  hither,"  and  he  darted  away  into 
the  throng 

Ben  Hesed  looked  after  him  quietly.  "The 
wicked  flee  when  no  man  pursueth,"  he  said  under 
his  breath,  "  yet  shall  sure  wrath  overtake  him, 
neither  shall  a  swift  foot  deliver  him.  Come  !"  he 
added,  turning  to  his  son,  "  let  us  bear  this  woman 
hence ;  there  is  now  no  further  need  to  wait  for 
them  that  heal." 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

A   ROLL   OF    PARCHMENT. 

'"T^HOU  canst  hear  for  thyself  how  Jerusalem 
1       is  on  an  uproar ;  the  credulous  and  ignorant 
from  all  the  country  round  about  are  crowding 
into  the  city  bringing  their  sick  with  them." 

"'Tis  worse  even  than  when  the  man  himself 
was  alive  ;  but  what  can  we  do  ? " 

"  Shorn  of  our  powers  as  we  be,  what  indeed  ? 
But  shall  we  then  sit  quietly  down  and  allow  these 
men  to  snatch  from  us  the  little  that  remains  ? " 
Annas  arose  from  his  place  as  he  spoke  and  open- 
ing a  small  receptacle  of  carved  ivory,  removed 
from  it  a  roll  of  parchment.  "  Let  us  now  consider 
this  matter  between  ourselves  ;  later  it  must  be 
presented  before  the  council,  but  I  tell  you  plainly 
that  in  the  council  itself  there  be  them  that  are  of 
two  minds.  I  have  written  here,"  he  continued, 
"the  names  of  them  that  are  principally  con- 


A  ROLL  OF  PARCHMENT.  151 

cerned  in  the  present  disturbances ;  let  these  be 
either  slain  or  forced  into  banishment,  and  the 
thousands  who  now  claim  to  believe  will  quickly 
lose  their  fervor — which  is  after  all  simply  a 
frenzy  of  excitement,  skilfully  produced  by  these 
apt  pupils  of  the  man  from  Galilee." 

He  was  deliberately  unrolling  the  parchment  as 
he  spoke.  "  I  have  prepared  this  list  after  most 
careful  inquiry  and  investigation,"  he  went  on, 
looking  keenly  from  one  to  the  other  of  the  two 
attentive  faces  before  him.  "To  thee,  Saul  of 
Tarsus,  this  information  should  prove  most  useful. 
Other  names  may  be  added  from  time  to  time  as 
shall  appear  necessary,  but  at  present  I  have 
set  down  only  some  seventeen  names,  including 
the  twelve  who  companied  with  the  Nazarene. 
These  are  now  I  am  told  known  as  apostles ;  and 
it  is  they  who  are  the  principal  inciters  of  the 
unseemly  gatherings  which  daily  take  place  within 
the  confines  of  our  Holy  Temple,  and  which  as 
yet  we  have  not  been  able  to  put  a  stop  to.  To 
our  shame  be  it  said  !  " 

"  The  names  !  the  names  ! "  cried  Caiaphas  im- 
patiently ;  "  read  them,  I  pray  thee,  without  fur- 
ther delay." 

Annas  frowned.  "Thou  art  zealous  in  the  cause, 
my  son,"  he  said  with  a  warning  gesture.  "  I  com- 
mend thy  diligence  ;  would  that  all  the  Sanhedrim 


152  STEPHEN 

were  of  like  mind  with  thyself.  The  names  of  the 
twelve  who  must  be  crushed  at  any  cost  are  as 
follows : 

"  The  first  is  Simon,  also  called  Peter — without 
question  the  most  dangerous  of  them  all,  in  that 
he  is  absolutely  unbridled  of  tongue  and  appar- 
ently without  fear  of  God  or  man.  He  is  an  igno- 
rant fellow,  having  been  taken  from  his  fishing 
boat  on  Gennesaret  by  the  Nazarene,  as  one  well 
fitted  to  become  his  disciple." 

"Was  he  not  the  one  who  declared  with  curses 
that  he  never  knew  the  Nazarene,  on  the  night 
when  the  man  was  so  cleverly  given  over  to  us 
by  that  other  follower  of  his,  Judas?"  said  Caia- 
phas. 

"Thou  art  in  the  right,  my  son,"  replied  Annas, 
stroking  his  beard  thoughtfully,  "though  I  had 
entirely  forgotten  the  circumstance ;  indeed  all  of 
his  followers  forsook  the  man  and  fled  at  the  time 
of  his  arrest." 

"Didst  thou  say  that  this  Peter  denied  his 
Master?"  asked  Saul. 

"  He  not  only  denied  knowing  him,  but  cursed 
and  blasphemed  foully  in  the  faces  of  them  that 
inquired  of  him  concerning  the  matter,  and  that 
without  provocation,  since  there  .was  no  effort 
made  to  molest  the  followers  of  the  Nazarene,  it 
being  deemed  sufficient  by  us  at  the  time  to  put 


A  ROLL  OF  PARCHMENT.  153 

an  end  to  the  man  himself — a  mistake  in  judg- 
ment which  we  are  like  to  repent  bitterly." 

"  Then  the  man  is  a  coward ! "  exclaimed  Saul 
contemptuously,  "  a  loud-mouthed  braggart ;  doubt- 
less a  Roman  scourging  will  suffice  to  close  his 
mouth  for  the  future." 

"The  suggestion  is  a  good  one,"  said  Annas  ap- 
provingly, "  it  can  be  brought  about  with  ease ; 
though  for  myself  I  am  in  favor  of  measures  which 
shall  entirely  rid  our  city  of  the  whole  blasphe- 
mous brood.  The  second  name  I  have  set  down  is 
that  of  John,  he  is  always  to  be  found  with  the  man 
Peter,  of  whom  we  have  just  been  speaking.  He 
is,  in  his  way,  quite  as  dangerous,  since  in  common 
with  the  other  he  possesses  some  means  of  delud- 
ing the  multitudes  into  supposing  that  he  hath 
healing  power." 

"  There  is  a  way  provided  by  the  law  for  dealing 
with  such  as  have  familiar  spirits  and  by  means  of 
them  work  deeds  of  darkness,"  growled  Caiaphas. 

"Quite  right,"  assented  Annas,  "we  shall  come 
to  that  presently  ;  of  the  others  I  need  say  nothing 
except  that  they  follow  the  same  practices  as  the 
first  two  named,  and  are  occupied  night  and  day 
in  spreading  the  pernicious  teachings  of  what  they 
are  pleased  to  call  the  good  tidings.  I  will  name 
them  in  order,  commencing  at  the  beginning  once 
more.  Simon,  who  is  called  Peter,  and  Andrew, 


154  STEPHEN 

brother  of  the  same ;  John  and  James,  sons  of 
Zebedee  ;  Philip,  Bartholomew,  Thomas,  Matthew, 
a  tax  gatherer ;  James  Ben  Alphaeus,  and  Lebbaeus, 
surnamed  Thaddeus ;  another  Simon,  who  is  a 
Canaanite,  and  Matthias,  whom  I  find  they  have 
chosen  to  take  the  place  of  the  man  Judas,  who 
served  us  well  and  cheaply  you  will  remember  in 
the  capture  of  the  Nazarene,  but  committed  the 
incredible  folly  of  hanging  himself  immediately 
afterward  ;  a  pity,  since  we  might  have  found  him 
useful  now.  To  these  twelve  names  I  have  also 
added  Mary,  the  mother  of  the  Nazarene,  she  had 
best  be  made  an  example  of,  together  with  some  of 
the  other  women,  who  consort  with  the  men  and 
brew  mischief  among  them  as  only  women  are 
able." 

Caiaphas  started  up.  "  Thou  hast  rightly  said," 
he  cried  in  a  hoarse  shaking  voice,  "  the  devil  led 
captive  the  first  woman,  and  they  all  do  follow  him 
to  this  day  if  he  but  put  on  the  guise  of  a  fair 
youth.  I  pray  thee  to  add  yet  another  name,  the 
name  of  Stephen.  Murderer  and  thief!  I  will 
kill  him  with  my  hands — I  hate  him — I— 

"My  son, "said  Annas  soothingly,  "thou  must 
not  over-agitate  thyself;  thy  zeal  for  the  holy 
temple  hath  quite  caused  thee  to  overlook  the 
frailty  of  thy  body,  weakened  by  recent  illness. 
The  name  Stephen  is  also  written  here,  since  I 


A  ROLL  OF  PARCHMENT.  155 

found  that  he  was  capable  of  leading  away  much 
people  after  him.  He  hath  a  nimble  tongue  and  a 
fair  countenance,  together  with  a  knowledge  of  the 
lower  Gentile  class  from  which  he  also  hath  sprung, 
being,  as  his  name  indicates,  of  Greek  parentage." 

"  He  is  the  son  of  a  murderous  thief,"  shrieked 
Caiaphas,  "  and  I  will  have  his  blood.  I " 

"Assuredly;  all  whose  names  are  written  here 
are  under  sentence  of  death,"  said  Annas,  laying  a 
warning  hand  on  the  speaker's  arm  ;  "but  I  pray 
thee,  attend  me  while  I  finish  the  reading  of  the 
parchment,  after  that  must  we  take  immediate  ac- 
tion. I  have  here  further  set  down  for  your  con- 
sideration the  apostates,  Nicodemus  and  Joseph  of 
Arimathaea,  formerly  members  of  the  Sanhedrim, 
but  now  delivered  over  unto  ungodly  lusts  and  blas- 
phemies in  the  company  of  the  Galileans.  Of  Joseph 
it  is  further  known  that  he  openly  begged  the  body 
of  the  Nazarene  from  Pilate  and  made  a  great  ado 
over  its  sepulture,  buying  spices  and  fine  linen  as 
if  for  a  rich  man,  and  laying  the  fruit  of  the  accursed 
tree  in  his  own  new  tomb,  from  whence  it  also  dis- 
appeared on  the  third  day  through  the  further 
machinations  of  these  same  apostles." 

"  I  once  knew  Joseph  of  Arimathaea,"  remarked 
Saul  thoughtfully ;  "  he  was  a  fair-minded  man,  I 
will  speak  with  him  concerning  the  matter— 

"Not  so,  my  son !  "  cried  Annas  hastily.     "I  for- 


156  STEPHEN 

bid  it  in  the  name  of  the  holy  council ;  it  is  not 
meet  for  one  that  is  sanctified  to  the  service  of 
Jehovah  to  consort  with  them  over  whom  Satan 
hath  gotten  the  victory.  But  hold !  I  hear  some 
one  at  the  door  ;  it  may  be  news  of  some  fresh  dis- 
turbance, I  ordered  the  captain  of  the  temple  police 
to  bring  me  word  should  such  occur.  Enter,  I 
pray  thee,  Caleb.  What  is  it  that  hath  befallen  ? " 

"A  great  tumult,  my  good  lords,"  said  the  man, 
bowing  himself  reverently  before  them.  "  The  men 
have  wrought  many  wonderful  cures  upon  the 
halt,  the  maimed,  and  the  blind  ;  the  whole  city  is 
at  the  doors  to  see  them.  They  are  bringing  out 
their  sick  and  laying  them  on  the  stones  of  the 
street,  crying  out  that  if  only  the  shadow  of  Peter 
fall  on  them  they  shall  be  healed." 

"This  is  monstrous!"  cried  Annas,  starting  up. 
"  Do  thou,  Saul  of  Tarsus,  go  with  this  man  and 
see  to  it  that  these  fellows  are  put  in  hold ;  their 
shadows  will  go  with  them  Thrust  them  into  the 
common  prison,  and  let  the  jailer  look  to  it  that 
they  escape  not.  Take  with  thee  a  sufficient  num- 
ber for  thy  security,  and  accomplish  the  matter 
quietly  but  with  all  speed.  To-morrow  we  will 
consider  their  case." 

Saul  of  Tarsus  was  already  girding  himself. 
"  Thy  commands,  my  lord,  shall  be  obeyed,"  he 
said,  bending  his  haughty  head,  "  and  I  rejoice  that 


A  ROLL  OF  PARCHMENT.  157 

I  am  counted  worthy  to  be  of  service  in  bringing 
to  naught  these  workers  of  iniquity.  If  it  meets 
with  thy  approval  I  shall  also  put  in  hold  any  others 
whom  I  shall  find  engaged  in  this  blasphemous 
wickedness." 

"Go  forth,  my  son,"  quoth  Annas,  rolling  up  his 
eyes,  and  spreading  abroad  his  jewelled  fingers, 
"and  take  with  thee  a  High-Priestly  blessing,  may 
it  enable  thee  to  prevail  gloriously.  Deal  with  the 
men  as  thou  wilt ;  only  remember  that  we  must  be 
prudent,  and  that  too  great  zeal  in  the  beginning 
oftentimes  cripples  an  enterprise  which  would 
otherwise  have  grown  mighty  and  irresistible, 
therefore  temper  thy  burning  zeal  with  all  caution 
and  diligence  as  befits  a  truly  wise  man."  He 
rubbed  his  hands  together  with  an  air  of  satisfac- 
tion as  the  door  closed  after  the  young  Pharisee. 
"A  most  admirable  man  for  the  occasion  !  "  he  ex- 
claimed, turning  to  Caiaphas.  "  Most  admirable  ! 
Full  of  courage,  full  of  determination,  withal  easy 
to  be  controlled  ;  but  I  would  not  that  he  talk  much 
of  the  matter  with  any  other  save  ourselves.  If  he 
should  hear  the  talk  of  Nicodemus,  Joseph,  or 
Barsabas,  I  fear  me  that  he  might  receive  an  impe- 
tus in  the  wrong  direction;  and  once  started,  there 
would  be  no  halfway  measures  with  him.  He  would 
speedily  develop  into  another  Peter  on  our  hands." 

"Dost  thou  in  truth  believe  that  these  men  are 
of  the  devil  ? " 


158  STEPHEN 

Annas  started,  the  self-satisfied  smile  faded  ;  he 
looked  sharply  into  the  worn  face  before  him,  at 
the  eyes  with  their  feverish  glitter,  at  the  thin, 
nerveless  hands,  at  the  bowed  shoulders ;  then  he 
frowned. 

"Thou  had  best  go  to  thy  chamber — "  he  began 
irritably,  but  Caiaphas  checked  him  with  an  impa- 
tient gesture. 

"  Prate  not  to  me  of  my  chamber !  I  am  sick, 
yes,  but  it  is  a  sickness  of  the  soul.  Thou  dost  not 
know  all,  I  have  not  told  thee  ;  but  hear  now  that 
my  son,  my  son  David,  was  crucified  as  a  thief  at 
the  right  hand  of  the  Nazarene."  His  voice  rose 
almost  to  a  shriek  at  the  last  word  and  he  tore  at 
his  hair  as  one  in  uncontrollable  agony. 

Annas  started  to  his  feet.  "  Thou  art  mad  !  "  he 
cried.  "  For  God's  sake,  do  not  shriek  forth  such 
foul  ravings,  lest  it  come  to  the  ears  of  them  with- 
out." 

"Nay,  I  am  not  mad,"  said  Caiaphas.  "  If  I 
were  mad,  I  might  sometimes  forget.  Thou  know- 
est  how  we  lost  him,"  he  continued,  sinking  his 
voice  to  a  husky  whisper.  "  He  was  stolen  by  a 
thief  who  bred  him  to  his  own  damnable  trade,  and 
who  also  was  crucified.  This  Stephen,  who 
preaches  to  the  people  of  the  Nazarene,  is  his  son. 
It  was  Stephen  who  taught  the  woman  who  was  my 
wife  to  believe  that  the  Nazarene  was  the  Messiah 


A  ROLL  OF  PARCHMENT.  159 

of  Israel.  What  if  it  were  true  !  My  God,  if  it 
were  true ! " 

"  Fool ! "  cried  Annas,  clenching  his  hands. 
"Breathe  to  another  human  soul  what  thou  hast 
told  me  and  I  will  thrust  thee  into  a  dungeon 
where  thou  shalt  cool  thy  hot  brain  to  eternity. 
Wilt  thou  drag  our  ancient  name  in  the  foul  mud 
of  the  streets  and  make  it  a  by-word  and  a  hissing  ? 
This  fellow  Stephen  shall  die,  and  that  speedily ; 
now  look  to  it  that  thy  tongue  is  forevermore  silent 
in  the  matter  !  Dost  thou  hear  me  ?  " 

Caiaphas  cowered  beneath  the  murderous  eyes 
of  the  old  man.  "It  shall  be  as  thou  hast  said," 
he  faltered  weakly.  Then  he  burst  into  a  passion 
of  sobbing  like  a  sick  child. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

IN   THE   PRISON    HOUSE. 

IT  was  very  dark  in  the  prison,  and  the  straw 
which  littered  the  earthen  floor  of  the  place 
was  damp  and  filthy.  Abu  Ben  Hesed  found  a 
difficulty  in  breathing  the  stagnant  air,  he 
groaned  aloud  and  beat  upon  his  breast.  "  Alas  ! " 
he  sighed,  "  how  have  the  wicked  prevailed  against 
the  innocent.  We  are  as  birds  in  the  snare  of  the 
fowler."  The  babe  in  the  arms  of  the  woman 
beside  him  stirred,  then  wailed  loudly. 

"  I  have  no  food  for  him,"  said  the  woman  plain- 
tively. "  Nevertheless  he  hath  the  strength  to  wail 
'for  it,  thanks  be  to  the  Almighty.  But  how  doth 
the  bitter  and  the  sweet  always  commingle.  No 
sooner  is  my  child  restored  than  I  am  thrust  into 
this  noisome  place ;  for  what  reason  I  know  not,  I 
but  praised  him  by  whose  name  was  the  healing 
wrought." 

(160) 


IN  THE  PRISON  HOUSE,  161 

"Thinkest  thou  not  that  he  who  hath  restored 
thy  babe  is  able  likewise  to  deliver  thee  from 
prison  ? "  said  a  deep  voice  from  out  the  gloom. 

The  woman  drew  a  little  nearer  to  Abu  Ben 
Hesed.  "  Who  is  it  that  speaks  ?"  she  whispered 
timidly,  while  the  child  again  wailed  loudly. 

Ben  Hesed  turned  his  piercing  gaze  toward  the 
place  from  whence  the  voice  had  come.  He 
thought  he  could  distinguish  a  number  of  dark 
figures  huddled  together  in  one  corner.  "  Who  are 
our  companions  in  this  misery  ?  "  he  asked. 

"We  are  the  apostles  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  in 
whose  name  we  are  able  to  heal  them  that  are 
sick.  By  the  command  of  the  chief  priests  are  we 
thrust  into  this  place ;  the  officers  who  seized  us 
are  well  known  unto  us.  But  praises  be  to  the 
Eternal  One  that  we  are  accounted  worthy  to  do 
the  works  which  the  Lord  did,  and  to  be  partakers 
of  his  sufferings.  For  unto  us  shall  be  also  a 
share  in  his  glory  which  he  hath  with  the  Father. 
But  how  is  it  that  ye  are  come  with  us  into  this 
place  ? " 

"  I  am  from  the  desert,"  answered  Ben  Hesed. 
"As  I  journeyed  I  found  by  the  wayside  this 
woman,  who  had  essayed  to  bring  her  babe  to  Jeru- 
salem for  healing.  When  I  perceived  that  she 
could  go  no  further  by  reason  of  her  weariness,  I 
set  her  upon  my  own  beast  and  fetched  her  into  the 


162  STEPHEN 

city.  As  we  waited,  hemmed  in  on  every  side  by 
the  multitude,  it  seemed  to  us  that  the  child  was 
dead,  therefore  I  bore  her  away  a  little  from  out 
the  throng,  because  the  spirit  was  well  nigh  gone 
out  of  her  by  reason  of  her  grief.  Then  it  was  that 
a  little  lad  called  Seth,  brought  unto  us  a  young 
man,  who  laid  his  hands  on  the  twain  and  healed 
them.  I  saw  it  with  mine  own  eyes  as  did  they 
that  were  with  me,  and  we  all  cried  aloud  and 
praised  God  for  his  mercy,  the  woman  also  with  a 
voice  of  thanksgiving.  But  as  we  rejoiced,  there 
came  a  certain  man  who  commanded  us  to  be  silent. 
'Shall  I  be  silent,'  I  answered  him,  'when  mine 
eyes  have  seen  wondrous  things?'  Then  I  bade 
him  begone,  for  it  is  not  my  custom  to  hear  or  to 
heed  commands  from  any,  since  I  am  lord  in  mine 
own  land.  But  even  as  I  spoke  I  was  seized  on  a 
sudden  from  behind  by  them  that  bound  me  and 
haled  me  away  hither,  together  with  the  woman. 
For  this  also  shall  vengeance  overtake  the  man, 
for  I  will  neither  eat  bread  nor  drink  wine  till  I 
have  accomplished  my  wrath  upon  mine  enemy.  I, 
Ben  Hesed,  have  spoken  it." 

"  Nay,  my  brother,"  said  another  voice,  "  I  will 
show  thee  a  more  excellent  way.  The  Lord  Jesus, 
when  he  was  betrayed  into  the  hands  of  cruel  men 
— who  also  accomplished  their  desires  upon  him, 
reviling  him,  beating  him,  and  at  last  crucifying 


IN  THE  PRISON  HOUSE.  163 

him — though  he  was  endued  with  all  power  from 
on  high,  offered  no  resistance  ;  even  as  it  is  written 
by  the  prophet  Isaiah,  '  He  was  despised  and 
rejected  of  men,  a  man  of  sorrows  and  acquainted 
with  grief ;  he  was  wounded  for  our  transgressions, 
he  was  bruised  for  our  iniquities ;  the  chastise- 
ment of  our  peace  was  upon  him  and  with  his 
stripes  we  are  healed.  He  was  brought  as  a  lamb 
to  the  slaughter,  and  as  a  sheep  before  her  shearers 
is  dumb,  so  he  opened  not  his  mouth.'  If  the 
holy  Jesus,  Lord  of  all  the  heavens,  could  endure 
such  suffering  with  patience,  is  it  meet  for  sinful 
man  to  seek  for  vengeance  ?  " 

Ben  Hesed  listened  attentively.  "  I  would  hear 
more  of  this  man  Jesus,"  he  said.  "  I  once  saw 
him  in  Jerusalem.  He  seemed  to  me  a  man,  even 
as  others,  though  it  was  told  me  that  he  had  the 
power  to  heal  them  that  were  afflicted  with  dis- 
eases." 

Then  they  told  him  all  the  story  of  Jesus  of 
Nazareth ;  and  when  they  spoke  of  his  awful 
death  on  the  cross,  the  old  man  wept  aloud. 

"  Would  to  God  that  I  had  known  it !  "  he  cried  ; 
"  I  would  have  come  with  my  tribe  like  a  swift  whirl- 
wind from  out  the  desert,  and  would  have  snatched 
him  from  the  hand  of  the  oppressor.  In  the  desert 
God  reigns." 

"  Doth  not   God  reign  over  all  the  earth,  for  he 


164  STEPHEN 

made  it?"  cried  Peter.  "Yet  he  suffered  these 
things  so  to  be ;  it  was  his  will  concerning  him, 
as  also  our  Lord  told  us  many  times  before  his 
death,  yet  because  of  our  blindness  we  heeded 
him  not.  Yea,  I  even  denied  that  I  knew  him, 
in  his  extremity;  yet  he  forgave  me,  as  also  he 
will  forgive  and  save  all  that  come  unto  him." 

"  How  can  he  forgive  when  he  is  dead  ? "  said 
the  woman  sadly.  "  Behold  there  is  no  hope  in  the 
grave ;  they  that  go  down  unto  death  return  not 
for  either  loving  or  forgiving,  though  we  weep 
tears  of  blood  in  our  anguish." 

"  Hast  thou  not  heard,"  cried  Peter  in  amaze, 
"  how  that  the  grave  could  not  hold  him  ?  On  the 
third  day  he  became  alive  again,  and  we  all  saw 
him  and  knew  by  many  infallible  proofs  that  it 
was  he  and  no  other.  And  as  he  arose  from 
among  the  dead,  even  so  shall  every  one  that 
believeth  on  him  also  become  alive  again.  Death 
is  swallowed  up  in  victory.  After  many  days,  with 
our  own  eyes  did  we  behold  the  heavens  receive 
him.  Yet  is  he  even  now  with  us  to  help  and  to 
comfort,  and  shall  be  alway  even  unto  the  end." 

While  he  yet  spake,  lo !  all  the  place  became 
light  about  them,  and  they  saw  that  the  doors  of 
the  prison  stood  wide  open  ;  and  while  they  mar- 
velled at  the  sight,  a  man  in  bright  raiment  stood 
before  them  and  said  : 


IN  THE  PRISON  HOUSE.  165 

"  Go,  stand  and  speak  in  the  temple  all  the 
words  of  this  life  !  " 

And  they  went  forth,  all  of  them,  into  the  night ; 
but  the  keepers  of  the  prison  continued  to  stand 
before  the  doors,  neither  seeing  nor  hearing  what 
had  happened,  for  their  eyes  were  holden  by  the 
angel. 

Ben  Hesed  was  baptized  in  that  same  hour,  and 
so  likewise  was  the  woman,  because  they  believed 
what  the  men  had  told  them  concerning  Jesus  of 
Nazareth ;  and  they  tarried  for  the  night  at  the 
house  of  John.  But  in  the  morning  very  early  the 
Apostles  went  into  the  temple  that  they  might 
speak  to  the  people,  even  as  the  angel  had  bidden 
them. 

About  the  third  hour  of  the  day  at  the  bidding 
of  Annas  came  the  members  of  the  Sanhedrim,  with 
the  chief  doctors  of  the  law,  and  all  the  great  rab- 
bis that  were  at  Jerusalem,  that  they  might  take 
council  together  concerning  them  which  Saul  had 
made  fast  in  the  prison.  And  when  Annas  had 
spoken  before  them  at  length  concerning  the  mat- 
ter, and  with  great  power  and  subtilty  had  con- 
vinced the  greater  part  of  them  that  these  men 
were  of  the  devil,  and  that  upon  the  Senate  thus 
convened  rested  the  honor  and  safety  of  Israel,  he 
commanded  that  the  prisoners  should  be  brought. 
And  the  officers  went  as  they  were  bidden,  and 


166  STEPHEN 

when  they  were  come  to  the  prison  they  asked  of 
them  that  stood  on  guard  before  the  door,  whether 
the  prisoners  had  been  troublesome  during  the 
night. 

"  We  heard  them  speaking  one  to  another  about 
the  third  watch,"  the  officer  of  the  guard  made 
answer.  "  But  there  has  been  neither  sound  nor 
motion  from  within  for  many  hours ;  they  sleep 
heavily  and  late." 

"They  must  even  awake  now,  that  they  may 
appear  before  the  council.  Fetch  them  out  at  once, 
for  I  must  make  haste." 

Then  the  officer  of  the  guard,  whose  name  was 
Chilion,  opened  the  door  of  the  prison  and  went  in. 
"Awake,  sluggards!"  he  cried  loudly,  "and  come 
forth." 

But  when  there  was  yet  neither  voice  nor  motion, 
he  drew  his  sword  and  thrust  it  in  among  the  heaps 
of  mouldy  straw.  "  If  ye  will  not  come  forth  peace- 
ably," he  said,  "then  shall  I  fetch  thee  forth  at  the 
point  of  the  sword."  But  no  shriek  of  pain 
answered  the  weapon.  So  he  strode  forth  into  the 
light.  "  Fetch  hither  a  torch,"  he  roared,  "  there  is 
the  darkness  of  the  pit  within,  and  the  rascals  make 
me  no  answer." 

So  they  made  haste  and  fetched  lights,  and  they 
searched  the  prison  with  all  diligence.  The 
prisoners  were  gone. 


IN  THE  PRISON  HOUSE.  167 

"  Thou  hast  been  drunken  in  the  night  and  so 
have  the  fellows  eluded  thee,"  said  Caleb,  the  chief 
of  the  temple  police,  when  he  had  satisfied  himself 
that  the  men  had  indeed  made  good  their  escape. 
"  For  this  shalt  thou  answer  with  a  scourging." 

"Thou  liest,  man ;  I  have  neither  eaten  bread 
nor  tasted  wine  during  the  night,"  cried  Chilion, 
choking  with  rage,  "  and  these  shall  bear  me  wit- 
ness. We  have  stood  continually  before  the  doors, 
even  as  thou  didst  find  us ;  it  is  from  within  that 
they  have  gotten  away." 

Then  they  again  examined  the  floor  and  the 
walls  of  the  prison ;  but  there  was  no  place  where 
so  much  as  a  mouse  could  have  crept  through. 

"  I  am  undone ! "  cried  Chilion,  rending  his 
clothes,  "if  they  be  not  found.  'Twas  by  their 
magic  powers  that  they  have  done  this  thing. 
Thinkest  thou  that  men  who  can  open  the  eyes  of 
the  blind,  cannot  also  open  the  doors  of  a  prison 
house  ? " 

So  Caleb  returned  unto  the  council ;  and  when 
he  had  made  obeisance  before  them,  he  said, 
"  I  am  most  unhappy,  my  lords,  in  that  I  am  the 
bearer  of  evil  tidings  ;  the  prisoners  whom  I  was 
sent  to  fetch  have  somehow  made  good  their  es- 
cape during  the  night." 

"  How  is  this  ?  "  cried  Annas  angrily.  "  Who 
guarded  the  prison  ?  " 


168  STEPHEN 

"  The  detachment  of  Chilion,  with  Chilion  him- 
self in  command,  my  lord.  The  prison  was  shut 
with  all  safety,  and  the  keepers  found  we  standing 
without  before  the  doors  ;  but  when  we  had  opened, 
there  was  no  man  within." 

"A  most  singular  story  this,  my  lord,"  remarked 
Alexander  sarcastically.  "  It  will  doubtless  trans- 
pire that  the  fellows  reasoned  with  the  keepers 
during  the  night  watches,  and  so  converted  them 
from  their  duty  to  their  own  interests ;  this  do 
they  with  all  men." 

"The  guard,  Chilion,  hath  been  bribed,"  sug- 
gested another.  "Fetch  him  hither,  and  try  the 
effect  of  a  scourging.  A  bleeding  back  createth 
an  honest  tongue  oftentimes  when  nothing  else 
will  suffice." 

But  as  they  thus  talked  together,  Chilion  him- 
self knocked  at  the  door ;  and  when  he  was  admit- 
ted, he  cried  out  before  them  all  that  he  was  inno- 
cent of  any  failure  in  his  duty  ;  he  was,  moreover, 
ready  to  swear  to  the  truth  of  this  upon  the  high 
altar  of  the  temple,  than  which  there  was  no  oath 
more  sacred.  "  As  for  the  men  whom  ye  put  in 
prison,"  he  added,  "they  are  at  this  moment  stand- 
ing in  the  temple  teaching  the  people ! " 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

"WHOSE    WE    ARE   AND    WHOM   WE   SERVE." 

"  JV /I  AY  I  advise,  my  lord,  that  these  men  be  at 
1  V  1  once  apprehended  and  brought  hither?" 
The  voice  was  that  of  Saul  of  Tarsus ;  he  had 
arisen  in  his  place,  and  the  eyes  of  all  were  fixed 
upon  him.  "We  shall  then  be  able  to  examine 
them  of  the  truth  of  this  man's  statements.  It 
would  seem  most  necessary  that  our  prisons  be 
made  secure,  since  I  opine  that  we  shall  have  need 
of  them  before  we  have  seen  an  end  to  this 
matter." 

"It  is  well  said,"  murmured  several  who  were 
high  in  authority,  "let  them  be  fetched  with  all 
speed;  we  will  not  go  hence  until  we  have  seen 
them." 

So  Annas  commanded  the  officers,  "Fetch 
hither  the  men,  but  without  show  of  violence,  for 
they  have  a  great  following  among  the  people.  A 
(169) 


1 70  STEPHEN 

popular  enthusiasm,"  he  added,  "when  bred  at 
the  wrong  moment  and  on  the  wrong  subject,  is 
most  disastrous ;  though  what  it  may  accomplish 
when  properly  directed,  those  of  you  who  were  in 
the  city  at  the  time  of  the  execution  of  the  man 
from  Galilee  will  remember.  The  populace  must 
be  with  us  now  as  they  were  then." 

Caleb  therefore  with  a  chosen  few  of  his  men 
sought  the  temple ;  and  there  they  found  a  great 
multitude  assembled  in  Solomon's  porch,  listening 
to  the  apostles  who  spoke  to  them  of  Jesus,  the 
crucified  carpenter  of  Galilee.  Him  they  declared 
boldly  to  be  the  Prince  of  Israel ;  assuring  the 
people  that  though  he  had  been  rejected  by  them 
and  cruelly  slain,  yet  was  he  able  to  save  them 
from  out  the  sin  and  misery  of  their  present  lives, 
and  furthermore  give  them  everlasting  life  in  place 
of  death.  So  that  for  them  that  believed  there  was 
now  no  further  terror  in  the  grave,  since  he  had 
promised  and  was  able  to  raise  their  corrupt  bodies 
into  the  likeness  of  his  own  glorious  body.  And 
all  the  people  heard  their  words  with  joy;  and 
they  cried  aloud  to  the  Crucified  One  to  forgive 
them  their  sins  and  to  remember  his  promises  to 
them  also. 

When  the  chief  captain  of  the  temple  police  was 
seen  to  approach  stealthily,  a  man  whose  long, 
silvery  beard  descended  upon  his  breast,  and  in 


WHOSE  WE  ARE  AND  WHOM  WE  SERVE.    171 

whose  eyes  burned  the  fire  of  desert  suns  cried 
out :  "  Seest  thou  these  men  ?  They  are  even  as 
the  leopard  of  the  mountain  which  steals  upon 
his  prey  unaware.  Look  to  it  now  that  they  do  the 
men  of  God  no  violence  !  " 

And  the  people  answered  with  a  great  shout, 
"  Let  us  stone  them  forthwith ;  if  they  be  dead 
they  will  trouble  us  no  more  !  "  And  Caleb  feared 
exceedingly  lest  they  should  lay  hands  upon  him ; 
but  being  a  discreet  man  and  in  pursuit  of  his  duty 
furthermore,  he  made  a  bold  stand  before  them. 

"Ye  men  of  Israel,"  he  cried,  "there  is  no 
violence  intended  these  men,  if  they  will  but  come 
with  me  peaceably.  The  council  and  senate  of  the 
people  of  Israel  would  hear  them  of  these  matters 
whereof  they  are  now  preaching,  and  for  this  pur- 
pose have  they  even  now  assembled  themselves 
together.  Let  the  apostles  go,  I  pray  ye,  that  those 
in  high  places  may  also  receive  the  Gospel."  This 
he  said,  not  because  he  himself  believed,  but  be- 
cause he  was  a  man  of  wisdom,  and  knew  that 
unless  he  could  placate  the  multitude,  great  harm 
might  come  not  only  to  himself  but  to  the  senate 
also. 

"  Should  these  men  once  accuse  the  chief  priests 
of  the  murder  of  the  Nazarene,"  he  said  within 
himself,  "the  mob  would  immediately  hale  them 
forth  from  the  council  chamber  and  tear  them  limb 


172  STEPHEN 

from  limb."  And  for  a  moment  he  was  half  minded 
to  send  word  to  the  citadel  asking  for  a  detachment 
of  Roman  soldiers,  but  he  bethought  himself  that 
this  would  only  betray  his  fear.  So  he  again  spoke, 
and  this  time  in  the  ear  of  Peter. 

"  I  beseech  thee,  good  Rabbi,"  he  said,  with  ap- 
parent humility,  "  that  thou  wilt  appease  the  people, 
since  thou  art  obeyed  of  them  ;  and  I,  despite 
mine  office,  have  no  authority  at  all  over  them." 

"  Call  not  thou  me  good,  who  denied  the  Lord 
of  Glory,"  answered  Peter.  "  I  will  go  with  thee." 
Then  he  beckoned  with  his  hand  unto  the  multi- 
tude that  they  should  pay  him  heed,  and  when  they 
were  silent,  expecting  that  he  would  command 
them  concerning  the  officers,  he  said  :  "  Ye  men  of 
Israel,  this  Jesus,  whom  we  preach  unto  you,  while 
he  was  yet  alive,  commanded  that  they  which 
would  follow  him  should  do  no  evil  to  any  man. 
Yea,  he  declared  that  if  a  man  should  smite  his 
neighbor  on  the  cheek,  that  the  smitten  one  should 
also  suffer  his  enemy  to  smite  again  without  resist- 
ance or  anger ;  and  when,  on  the  night  before  his 
death,  the  chief  priests  sent  a  company  of  men 
armed  with  swords  and  staves  for  to  seize  him,  I 
was  filled  with  indignation  and  smote  the  high 
priest's  servant  with  the  sword,  so  that  his  ear  was 
severed  from  his  head ;  but  the  Lord  rebuked  me, 
and  bade  me  put  up  my  sword  into  its  place,  then 


WHOSE  WE  ARE  AND  WHOM  WE  SERVE.    173 

he  reached  forth  his  hand  and  touched  the 
wounded  man  and  healed  him.  Furthermore,  ye 
remember  how  that  afterward,  when  he  was  mocked 
and  scourged  and  spit  upon  by  his  enemies,  he 
opened  not  his  mouth  with  revilings,  but  bore  all 
with  patience,  though  there  remained  within  his 
call  more  than  twelve  legions  of  angels,  armed  with 
the  fiery  swords  of  heaven.  If  then  ye  would  fol- 
low him  on  whom  ye  have  believed,  give  place  to 
wrath  and  conduct  yourselves  peaceably.  For  ye 
may  have  confidence  that  the  Lord  Christ,  whose 
we  are  and  whom  we  serve,  will  not  suffer  us  to 
be  tried  above  that  we  can  bear,  but  will  with  the 
necessity  provide  a  way  of  escape." 

And  when  the  people  heard  these  words,  they 
suffered  the  apostles  to  go  away  with  the  officers. 
But  Ben  Hesed,  and  with  him  others  of  them  that 
were  strong-hearted,  followed  hard  after,  and 
waited  near  the  door  of  the  council  chamber. 

"For,"  said  Ben  Hesed  grimly,  "it  is  also  writ- 
ten concerning  the  Lord,  'With  the  merciful  thou 
wilt  show  thyself  merciful,  and  with  the  froward 
thou  wilt  show  thyself  froward.  The  Lord  will 
save  the  afflicted  people,  but  he  will  bring  down 
high  looks,'  and  further,  '  He  teacheth  my  hands  to 
war,  so  that  a  bow  of  steel  is  broken  by  my  arms ; 
I  have  pursued  mine  enemies,  and  overtaken  them, 
neither  did  I  turn  again  till  they  were  consumed.'  ' 


i74  STEPHEN 

And  when  Caleb  perceived  that  the  men  were 
even  at  the  doors,  he  wrote  upon  a  tablet,  saying : 
"  Be  discreet,  I  pray  thee,  in  thy  dealings  with 
these  apostles,  for  there  be  them  without  which 
are  able  to  make  of  thee  and  of  all  that  are 
within,  even  as  the  small  dust  of  the  balance." 
And  this  he  caused  to  be  given  to  Annas  privily. 

When  Annas  had  read  these  words,  his  heart 
burned  like  a  live  coal  within  him.  Yet  was  his 
brow  calm  and  unruffled  as  he  fixed  his  keen  eyes 
on  the  men  who  stood  humbly  enough  in  the  pres- 
ence of  that  imposing  assembly.  "  Again  hath  it 
become  necessary  to  rebuke  you  openly  because 
of  your  blasphemous  conduct.  Stiff-necked  and 
ignorant  fishermen,  how  is  it  that  ye  do  thus 
persist  in  doing  the  things  which  work  only  for 
unrighteousness  ?  Did  not  we  straightly  command 
you  that  ye  should  not  teach  in  this  name  ?  And, 
behold,  ye  have  filled  Jerusalem  with  your  doctrine, 
and  intend  to  bring  the  blood  of  the  slain  Nazarene 
upon  us." 

"  We  ought  to  obey  God  rather  than  man," 
affirmed  Peter  simply. 

Annas  trembled  with  his  pent  up  anger,  but  he 
still  spoke  with  calmness.  "  This  have  ye  before 
declared  as  the  reason  and  excuse  of  your  disobe- 
dience to  this  most  holy  council  of  the  People  of 
Israel.  Dost  thou  think  then  that  the  God  of  our 


WHOSE  WE  ARE  AND  WHOM  WE  SERVE.    175 

fathers  speaks  no  longer  save  to  fisher  folk,  publi- 
cans and  malefactors  ?  Nay,  for  upon  us  doth  rest 
the  power  of  God  and  the  wisdom  of  God  ;  in  that 
we  would  defend  from  scurrilous  and  wicked  hands 
the  faith  which  we  have  kept  unsullied  from  the 
days  of  our  father  Abraham  even  until  now." 

"We  have  but  one  answer  to  make  to  this," 
said  John,  looking  squarely  into  the  furious  eyes  of 
the  man  who  had  spoken,  "  and  it  is  this.  The 
God  of  our  fathers  raised  up  Jesus,  whom  ye  slew 
and  hanged  on  a  tree.  Him  hath  God  exalted  with 
his  right  hand  to  be  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour,  that  he 
might  give  repentance  to  Israel  and  forgiveness  of 
sins.  And  we  are  his  witnesses  of  these  things ; 
and  so  is  also  the  Holy  Spirit,  whom  God  hath 
given  to  them  that  obey  him." 

"  Hearest  thou  these  sayings  ?"  cried  Annas, 
starting  to  his  feet.  "  What  is  this  else  but  foul 
blasphemy  ?  It  is  poison  of  this  kind  that  these 
fellows  spread  industriously  amongst  the  people 
day  by  day.  The  Nazarene,  a  prince  and  saviour 
forsooth,  and  we  his  murderers  !  If  the  people 
once  come  to  believe  this,  what  shall  come  to  pass  ? 
We  shall  be  overthrown  and  the  whole  nation 
given  over  to  blasphemy  and  idolatry." 

"  We  shall  be  doing  God  service  if  we  immedi- 
ately put  these  to  death,"  said  Jochanan.  "  It 
must  needs  be  done,  the  public  weal  demands  it." 


176  STEPHEN 

11 1  am  of  the  same  mind,"  exclaimed  Alexander. 

"And  I — and  I!"  shouted  half  a  score  of  voices. 

"Let  them  be  stoned!" 

"  Give  them  over  to  the  Romans !" 

"  I  beseech  your  indulgence,  my  good  lords !" 
interrupted  a  grave  deep  voice  from  the  inner 
circle  of  the  assembly,  "that  ye  may  grant  a  brief 
hearing  to  one,  who  because  he  is  still  somewhat 
unfamiliar  with  these  new  doctrines,  perchance 
looks  upon  them  from  a  slightly  different  stand- 
point from  those  of  you  who  have  patiently  borne 
the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day." 

"Gamaliel!  Gamaliel!"  cried  several  voices. 
"  Let  us  hear  what  he  hath  to  say." 

The  speaker  was  a  man  of  powerful  physique, 
and  of  calm  and  dignified  bearing.  As  he  looked 
keenly  about  over  the  excited  assemblage  with  an 
air  of  conscious  authority,  every  eye  was  fixed 
upon  him  with  grave  attention.  "  May  I  request," 
he  continued  when  the  tumult  of  excited  voices 
had  died  away  into  silence,  "  that  the  persons  under 
discussion  be  put  forth  for  a  little  space." 

This  command  being  obeyed  with  alacrity  by 
the  underlings  of  Caleb,  the  speaker  resumed  in  a 
deep  measured  voice.  "  As  I  have  listened  to  the 
sayings  of  these  men,"  he  said,  "my  mind  hath 
sought  the  past,  for  it  is  in  the  experiences  of 
years  gone  by  that  man  hath  ever  found  the  best 


WHOSE  WE  ARE  AND  WHOM  WE  SERVE.    177 

council  for  the  exigencies  of  the  present.  To 
adopt  excessive  measures  for  the  disruption  of  this 
new  sect  would,  in  my  opinion,  be  not  only  unwise 
in  the  present  disturbed  state  of  the  populace,  but 
actually  dangerous.  I  have  mingled  with  the  mul- 
titude and  I  know  that  whereof  I  speak ;  there- 
fore take  heed  to  yourselves  what  ye  intend  to  do 
as  touching  these  men.  Turning,  as  I  have  sug- 
gested, to  the  annals  of  the  past,  we  find  that 
before  these  days  there  rose  up  a  certain  Theudas, 
boasting  himself  to  be  somebody,  to  whom  a 
number  of  men,  about  four  hundred,  joined  them- 
selves. After  a  time  he  was  slain  in  a  brawl,  and 
all  who  believed  on  him  were  speedily  scattered 
and  brought  to  naught.  Again,  somewhat  later 
appeared  Judas,  a  Galilean,  in  the  days  of  the 
taxing,  and  drew  away  much  people  after  him  ;  he 
also  perished,  and  those  who  had  obeyed  him  were 
dispersed.  So  now  I  say  unto  you,  refrain  from 
these  men  and  let  them  alone,  for  if  this  preaching 
and  healing  which  they  do  be  of  men  it  will 
speedily  come  to  naught.  But  if,  on  the  other 
hand,  it  be  of  God,  ye  cannot  overthow  it,  lest 
haply  ye  be  found  to  fight  against  God. " 

A  deep  murmur  of  approval  followed  these 
words,  after  which  a  number  of  the  more  influ- 
ential ones  expressed  themselves  as  in  favor  of 
adopting  the  safe  and  conservative  course  recom- 

12 


178  STEPHEN 

mended  by  the  wise  doctor  of  the  laws  who  had 
spoken. 

Presently,  when  all  had  been  said,  Annas  arose 
and  looked  about  him.  In  the  hush  that  followed, 
the  tumult  of  the  surging  multitudes  without  could 
be  distinctly  heard. 

"Though  I  believe  that  these  men  and  their 
works  are  neither  of  man  nor  of  God,  but  of  the 
devil,"  he  began,  his  voice  shaking  with  suppressed 
excitement,  "yet  is  the  devil  ever  watchful  of  his 
own,  and  the  populace  are  not  to  be  trifled  with 
at  the  present  moment ;  therefore  do  I  agree  with 
the  worshipful  Gamaliel  in  thinking  that  the  safe 
course  for  ourselves  and  for  the  cause  which  we 
serve  will  be,  as  he  hath  suggested,  to  let  the  men 
be  for  the  present.  I  am  not  without  hope  of 
interesting  Herod  in  the  matter.  Let  it  come  to 
his  ears  once  that  these  fellows  are  preaching  to 
the  people  that  their  Master  is  shortly  coming 
back  to  establish  his  throne  in  Jerusalem — as 
I  can  bring  witnesses  to  testify — and  he  will 
speedily  take  care  of  them  that  say  such  things. 
I  will  therefore  command  that  the  men  be 
scourged  in  our  presence,  which  may  prove  a 
wholesome  corrective  to  their  mistaken  zeal ; 
after  that  they  shall  be  released." 

This  accordingly  was  done,  the  dignitaries 
looking  on  calmly  whilst  the  scourging  was  admin- 
istered by  the  underlings  of  the  temple  police. 


WHOSE  WE  ARE  AND  WHOM  WE  SERVE.     179 

When  the  sickening  sound  of  the  blows  had  at 
length  ceased,  Annas  again  spoke.  "There  is 
somewhat  that  ye  have  still  to  answer  for,"  he 
said.  "  How  is  it  that  ye  made  good  your  escape 
from  the  prison  ?  These  your  guards  declare  that 
they  stood  continually  before  the  doors  from  the 
evening  when  ye  were  incarcerated  even  until  the 
morning." 

The  face  of  John  glowed  with  a  celestial  light. 
"  The  angel  of  the  Lord,  whose  we  are  and  whom 
we  serve,  came  and  fetched  us  out,  and  the  eyes 
of  the  keepers  were  holden  that  they  wist  not 
when  we  went  by  them." 

Annas  eyed  the  speaker  with  a  mocking  smile. 
"  How  is  it,"  he  said  slowly,  his  eyes  lingering 
with  manifest  satisfaction  upon  the  crimson  marks 
of  the  scourging,  "that  he  who  delivered  thee 
from  the  prison  house,  was  not  able  also  to  deliver 
thee  from  the  hands  of  them  that  beat  thee  ? " 

"We  were  delivered  from  the  prison  that  we 
might  speak  to  the  people  of  him  who  is  able  to 
save  them  from  their  sins,"  answered  John.  Then 
he  also  smiled,  but  it  was  as  an  angel  might  have 
smiled,  on  whom  the  King  immortal,  invisible,  had 
conferred  some  high  and  heavenly  boon.  "The 
servant  is  not  above  his  Lord,"  he  said,  "and  if 
we  suffer  with  him,  we  shall  also  reign  with  him ; 
he  hath  gone  to  prepare  a  place  for  us,  that  where 
he  is,  there  we  may  be  also." 


i8o  STEPHEN 

Then  Annas  rose  in  his  wrath.  "  Let  what  ye 
have  received  at  our  hands  serve  to  remind  you 
that  ye  are  forbidden  to  speak  the  name  of  the 
crucified  Galilean  in  Jerusalem.  Further  disobe- 
dience shall  meet  with  a  punishment  to  which  this 
shall  be  as  nothing."  Then  were  the  apostles 
thrust  out  from  the  council  chamber  ;  and  they 
departed,  rejoicing  greatly  that  they  were  counted 
worthy  to  suffer  shame  for  his  name.  And  daily 
in  the  temple  and  in  every  house  where  dwelt 
them  that  believed,  they  ceased  not  to  teach  and 
preach  Jesus  Christ. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

IN   THE   SHADOW   OF   THE   WALL. 

"  nPHEN  thou  wilt  not  go  with  me  this  morning  ? " 

1  "  Nay,  I  must  not ;  this  morning  I  am  to  learn 
how  to  spin.  The  mother  of  Jesus  will  teach  me ; 
afterward  I  shall  make  for  thee  a  tunic.  Now  thou 
seest  what  a  thing  it  is  to  have  eyes."  Anat 
looked  down  at  the  small  hands  which  lay  folded  in 
her  lap.  "  These,"  she  continued,  spreading  out 
the  slender  brown  fingers,  "  have  hitherto  been  as 
idle  as  the  hands  of  a  princess,  but  the  lady  Mary 
says  that  they  must  learn  many  things,  if  with  them 
I  would  serve  him  that  healed  me." 

Seth  looked  half  regretfully  into  the  eager  face. 
"Then  we  shall  no  more  dwell  by  ourselves  as 
heretofore  ?  Hast  thou  forgotten  the  desert  ?  " 

"  I  have  not  forgotten,  but  I  would  like  to  stay 
here." 

"  And  the  dromedary  ? " 
(181) 


1 82  STEPHEN 

"Thou  must  find  it.  It  was  not  I  who  would 
leave  it  without  in  the  hands  of  a  stranger.  The 
lord  of  the  desert  is  just  in  requiring  it  at  thy 
hands." 

The  lad  turned  away.  "Be  it  so,"  he  cried 
angrily.  "  Till  I  have  found  it,  thou  wilt  see  my 
face  no  more ;  if  that  be  never,  why  then " 

"  Seth,  Seth  !  Stay  a  moment,  my  brother !  do 
not  leave  me  so !  "  But  he  was  gone,  and  without 
turning  his  head. 

"  How  can  I  find  the  beast  ? "  he  muttered  to 
himself  crossly,  as  he  plunged  into  the  labyrinth 
of  narrow  streets.  I  have  asked  everywhere  for 
the  man  Gestas,  no  one  knows  him  ;  as  for  the 
white  dromedary,  men  look  at  me  as  if  I  were  a 
witless  fool  when  I  speak  of  it.  If  now  I  were  in 
Egypt,  I  should  offer  a  libation  to  Ptah  Hotep,  or 
fetch  a  garland  to  the  temple  of  the  sacred  bull, 
then  might  I  receive  wisdom ;  if  I  pray  to  the  gods 
of  this  land,  how  will  they  heed  me  who  am  an 
alien  ? "  At  this  point  in  his  meditation  the  lad 
flung  himself  down  in  the  shadow  of  an  archway, 
his  eyes  following  idly  the  darting  flight  of  the 
sparrows  overhead  ;  something  in  their  noisy  cry- 
ing brought  back  the  memory  of  the  day  when  he 
bent  half  distracted  over  the  unconscious  form  of 
Anat.  "There  is  a  God  who  can  hear  somewhere," 
he  said  half  aloud.  "For  he  both  heard  and 


IN  THE  SHADOW  OF  THE  WALL.         183 

answered  the  man  who  healed  Anat ;  yet  is  it  a 
great  thing  to  heal  blindness,  I  dare  not  ask  him 
to  help  me  find  a  beast  of  burden.  Is  there  not 
some  smaller  god  who  cares  for  common  things  ? 
'  Not  a  sparrow  falleth  to  the  ground  without  your 
Father. '  Where  had  he  heard  those  words  ?  It 
was  John  who  had  spoken  them  after  the  scourging 
before  the  council.  "  That  means  his  father,  not 
mine; "  he  went  on  meditatively,  " I  am  not  a  Jew. 
Yet  are  there  sparrows  in  Egypt  also ;  if  I  pray  to 
this  God,  he  will  not  I  suppose  strike  me  dead ;  I 
will  try  and  see  what  comes  of  it.  God  of  this  land 
—Jesus — if  that  be  thy  name  !  I  am  as  thou  seest 
an  Egyptian,  and  I  know  not  what  offering  is  pleas- 
ing unto  thee ;  and  if  I  knew  I  could  not  provide  it, 
for  I  am  poorer  than  yonder  sparrow.  Yet  if  it  be 
true  that  thou  dost  care  for  such,  help  me  also,  I 
pray  thee,  to  find  the  white  dromedary,  which  is 
justly  required  at  my  hands  by  the  lord  of  the 
desert." 

When  he  had  prayed  thus,  a  vague  comfort  stole 
into  his  heart ;  he  opened  his  eyes  and  looking 
down  the  street,  saw  coming  toward  him  two  men. 
One  of  them  he  instantly  recognized  as  the  man  in 
whose  keeping  he  had  left  the  dromedary  ;  with  a 
little  cry  of  joy  he  started  to  his  feet,  but  shrank 
back  again  into  the  archway,  and  seeing  a  broken 
place  in  the  wall,  he  squeezed  himself  into  it  and 


184  STEPHEN 

stood  motionless.  "  I  will  follow  after  them  when 
they  have  passed  by,"  he  thought  within  himself. 
"  It  may  be  that  so  I  shall  come  upon  the  beast 
unawares ;  if  he  sees  me,  it  will  not  come  to  pass." 

But  the  two  paused  beneath  the  archway,  and 
finally  sat  down  on  the  stones,  neither  of  them 
noticing  the  motionless  figure  in  the  black  shadow 
of  the  broken  wall. 

"  Give  me  thy  flask  if  thou  hast  in  it  a  swallow 
of  wine ;  I  am  parched  with  the  heat,"  said  the 
one  who  was  called  Gestas. 

"I  have  no  wine,"  replied  the  other  ;  "  water  is 
better." 

"  Pah  !  "  grunted  Gestas  testily,  motioning  away 
the  proffered  flask.  "  I  do  not  drink  water ;  'tis  fit 
only  for  the  beasts." 

"  Thou  art  assuredly  right,  good  friend  ;  the  best 
of  the  wine  is  not  too  good  for  thee.  Do  but  a 
trifling  service  for  me,  and  thou  shalt  not  lack  for 
the  necessary  gold." 

"What  wouldst  thou?" 

The  Jew  hesitated  for  a  moment  as  if  he  scarcely 
knew  how  to  proceed.  Seth  cautiously  peered 
out  from  his  hidden  nook;  he  saw  that  the  man 
was  well  dressed  and  had,  moreover,  an  air  of 
importance.  He  listened  eagerly  for  his  next 
words. 

"  Thou  art  the  man  who  witnessed  before  Pilate 


IN  THE  SHADOW  OF  THE  WALL.         185 

against  the  malefactors,  Dumachus  and  Titus,  who 
afterward  suffered  with  the  Nazarene." 

Gestas  started  visibly,  he  drew  away  a  little  and 
fixed  his  small  twinkling  eyes  on  his  companion 
with  a  mixture  of  bravado  and  apprehension. 

"What  if  I  be  ? "  he  said  at  length.  "  I  was  dis- 
charged by  the  governor  with  but  twenty  stripes." 

"Ay,  but  since  then  thou  hast  also — "  here  the 
speaker  lowered  his  voice  so  that  Seth  lost  what 
followed. 

Gestas  sprang  to  his  feet  with  a  great  oath,  and 
half  drew  his  knife.  "Thou  knowest  too  much  by 
half,"  he  cried  ;  "  I  am  minded  to  send  thee  where 
thou  mayest  prate  of  this  to  the  shades." 

"Peace,  braggart !  "  said  his  companion,  a  shade 
of  contempt  in  his  voice.  "  I  am  not  unarmed. 
But  thou  canst  see  that  had  I  spoken  the  word 
thou  wouldst  even  now  be  rotting  without  the 
walls.  I  did  not  choose,  because — thou  canst  serve 
me.  Sit  down  and  listen." 

Gestas  obeyed.  "  It  is  murder,  I  suppose,"  he 
said  sullenly.  "  I  know  you  all,  you  rich  men  ! 
You  force  us  poor  devils  to  accomplish  your  black 
deeds,  and  dole  out  to  us  a  scanty  pittance  from 
your  hoarded  gold  ;  but  if  there  be  other  recom- 
pense, such  as  the  scourge  or  the  cross,  it  is  ours 
without  grudging.  Thirty  pieces  of  silver  they 
paid  for  the  Nazarene ;  I  know,  for  I  saw  it." 


1 86  STEPHEN 

"  What  if  it  be  thirty  pieces  of  gold  this  time  ? " 
said  the  Jew  softly.  "  The  Iscariot  was  an  ignorant 
Galilean ;  he  was  satisfied  with  the  silver.  It  was 
enough,"  he  added  with  a  shrug,  "for  he  hanged 
himself  immediately  thereafter  because  of  his  re- 
morse. Now  thou  wouldst  not  do  that,  I  dare  ven- 
ture ? " 

"  I  ?  Never !  Else  I  had  been  dead  a  score  of 
times  already.  But  the  matter  in  hand,  what  is  it? 
I  make  no  bargain,  understand,  till  I  know." 

"  '  Tis  simple  enough — and — safe.  Only  the  dis- 
posal of  a  man  without  family,  and — yes — without 
friends.  He  is  moreover  blood-guilty ;  his  removal 
is  therefore  lawful." 

"  Why  then  dost  thou— 

"  Why  do  I  not  perform  the  deed  myself  ?  A 
proper  question  ;  thou  hast  understanding.  It  is — 
most  sapient  Gestas — not  my  affair.  I  represent 
another ;  that  other  is  not  in  a  position  to  avenge 
himself  personally,  nevertheless  he  will  be  avenged. 
Wilt  thou  undertake  this — for  thirty  pieces  of 
gold?" 

"  Ten  pieces  now — thirty  afterward,  and  I  will 
do  it." 

"  Say  five  now ! " 

"Nay,  ten  ;  I  have  no  mind  to  risk  my  life  for 
a  pittance." 

The  other  produced  his  wallet,  albeit  with  some 


IN  THE  SHADOW  OF  THE  WALL,         187 

show  of  reluctance,  and  passed  it  into  the  hand  of 
Gestas.  "  There  are  just  ten  pieces  within,"  he 
remarked.  "Thou  mayest  count  them." 

Gestas  fumbled  over  the  coins  deliberately, 
counting  them  in  a  sibilant  whisper.  "  One — two 
—  three  —  four  — five  — six —  seven — eight — nine — 
ten.  Yes  ten — and  a  bit  of  silver."  Then  he  lifted 
the  pouch  to  the  light  and  looked  at  it  critically ; 
"  I  will  keep  this  also — and  the  silver,"  he  added 
with  a  knowing  leer. 

"Of  course,  keep  that  also,"  said  his  companion, 
eying  him  with  an  inscrutable  smile.  "  But  I 
have  not  told  thee  the  man's  name.  His  head 
must  thou  deliver  to  me  this  very  night  at  mid- 
night, if  thou  wouldst  receive  the  thirty  pieces. 
It  is  known  to  me  where  thou  art  encamped  with 
thy  followers." 

"  I  make  no  secret  of  that,"  said  Gestas  with  a 
boastful  laugh.  "There  is  good  water  for  our 
beasts  in  the  valley  of  Hinnom,  and  it  is  not  too 
far  from  the  highway.  If  therefore  thou  wilt  be  in 
waiting  just  without  the  Jaffa  gate,  the  head  shall 
be  delivered  into  thy  hand  at  the  hour  named  ;  if 
not  to-night,  why  then  to-morrow  night ;  one  must 
have  time  to  snare  the  bird.  But  thou  hast  not  yet 
told  me  the  name." 

"True;  well  then  listen!"  leaning  forward,  the 
Jew  whispered  for  a  little  space  into  the  ear  of 


1 88  STEPHEN 

Gestas,  who  nodded  twice  or  thrice  as  if  he  un- 
derstood. 

"  I  know  the  man,"  he  said.  "  No  one  better ;  he 
should  by  right  be  about  another  business,"  then  he 
laughed  aloud  as  if  something  afforded  him  much 
secret  amusement.  "  I  have  done  for  the  father,  I 
am  once  avenged ;  now  I  will  be  twice  avenged, 
which  is  better.  I  know  also  how  to  lure  him  into 
a  safe  place.  Thou  wilt  not  fail  with  the  thirty 
pieces  ? " 

"  I  swear  by  the  Temple  that  I  will  not  fail." 

"  Good  !  Now  there  is  another  matter ;  I  have  in 
my  camp  a  dromedary  of  great  swiftness  which  I 
wish  to  dispose  of  at  a  fair  price ;  the  animal  is 
young,  docile,  well  trained  ;  it  is  moreover  of  a 
white  color  ;  I  have  never  seen  the  like.  I  bought 
the  beast  of  a  caravan  and  paid  for  it  a  great 
sum." 

"  No  doubt,"  replied  his  companion  suavely ; 
"but  let  us  first  finish  the  matter  in  hand.  One 
thing  at  a  time,  and  diligently  done,  maketh  a  well 
ordered  life,"  he  continued  piously.  "So  then  I 
leave  the  affair  in  thy  hands." 

"  Thou  mayest  trust  me !  "  cried  Gestas  with  a 
great  laugh  ;  he  rose  as  he  spoke  and  brought  down 
his  broad  palm  on  the  other  man's  shoulder  with  a 
sounding  thwack.  "Thou  hast  made  no  mistake 
in  putting  the  matter  into  my  hands,  it  will — "  here 


IN  THE  SHADO  W  OF  THE  WALL.         189 

he  stopped  short  and  stared  fixedly  into  the  shadow 
of  the  arch.  " Body  of  Jove !"  he  exclaimed.  "It 
seems  that  we  are  not  alone !  "  And  reaching  for- 
ward, he  grasped  the  wretched  Seth  by  the  shoulder 
and  dragged  him  forth  into  the  sunlight. 

"What  wast  thou  doing  there,  thou  devil's  imp? 
Nay,  but  thou  shalt  answer  dearly  for  this." 

But  Seth  had  not  shifted  for  himself  all  his  thir- 
teen years  of  life  for  naught!  He  instantly  per- 
ceived that  the  man  did  not  recognize  him ;  rub- 
bing his  eyes  stupidly,  he  stammered  out  some- 
thing about  sleeping  soundly.  Then  he  stretched 
out  his  hand  toward  the  Jew  who  was  regarding 
him  suspiciously  from  under  his  bent  brows,  and 
whined  out  a  petition  for  alms. 

"Wilt  thou  that  I  give  thee  a  gold  piece?"  said 
Gestas  in  the  Greek  tongue. 

Seth  regarded  him  blankly.  "I  do  not  under- 
stand, honored  sir,"  he  said  humbly. 

The  companion  of  Gestas  looked  relieved.  "  It 
is  safe  enough  if  the  beggar  understood  us  not," 
he  said.  "  Best  take  him  along  with  you  and  make 
him  secure  till  afterward  ;  then  release  him." 

"It  maybe  that  he  doth  not  understand,"  re- 
joined Gestas,  staring  fixedly  at  the  lad  with  his 
fierce  red  eyes ;  "  yet  there  is  but  one  kind  of  a 
man  who  can  be  trusted  to  tell  no  tales,  and  that  is 
a  dead  man.  All  languages  are  alike  to  the  tongue 


190  STEPHEN 

that  hath  ceased  to  move ;  any  other  tongue  is  to 
be  feared." 

The  other  shrugged  his  shoulders  indifferently. 
"  Ah  well,  do  with  him  as  thou  wilt ;  life  can  be 
nothing  to  such  as  he.  Only  take  him  away.  Till 
the  hour  and  place  of  our  agreement,  farewell ! " 
and  turning  he  walked  rapidly  away,  without  once 
looking  behind  him. 

For  an  instant  Seth  meditated  flight ;  but  the 
burly  figure  of  Gestas  was  planted  directly  in  front 
of  him  ;  to  elude  him  would  be  impossible.  Rais- 
ing his  eyes  he  saw  the  brown  head  and  bright  eyes 
of  a  sparrow,  perched  securely  upon  the  ledge  of 
the  arch  above  him  ;  the  little  creature  was  regard- 
ing the  scene  with  apparent  curiosity.  Presently 
with  a  wild  cry  it  darted  away  to  join  its  fellows. 
The  lad  followed  its  flight  with  envious  eyes,  and 
for  the  second  time  he  remembered  the  strange 
words  of  John,  "Not  a  sparrow  falleth  to  the 
ground  without  your  Father."  Again  he  prayed 
to  the  unknown  God  who  minded  even  the  little 
wild  things  of  the  air,  and  as  before  he  was  com- 
forted. 

Gestas  was  evidently  considering  the  situation 
with  care,  for  he  continued  to  stand  silent  before 
his  prisoner,  his  arms  akimbo,  his  small  savage 
eyes  riveted  upon  the  figure  before  him.  "  Wouldst 
thou  that  I  release  thee?"  he  asked  suddenly  in 
the  Greek  tongue. 


IN  THE  SHADOW  OF  THE  WALL.         191 

"If  it  please  thee,  good  sir,"  responded  Seth, 
quite  off  his  guard. 

Gestas  smiled  evilly.  "It  doth  not  please  me, 
boy.  Now  march  before  me — so.  Remember  that 
I  have  in  my  hand  a  knife."  And  grasping  the 
boy  by  the  shoulders,  he  shoved  him  with  a  kind  of 
terrible  gentleness  into  the  street. 

Like  one  in  a  dream  the  lad  walked  before  his 
captor.  From  time  to  time  he  looked  wildly 
about  in  the  vain  hope  of  rescue,  but  the  few 
passers-by  went  about  their  business  with  unsee- 
ing eyes,  and  an  occasional  prick  of  the  knife  from 
behind  warned  him  that  instant  death  awaited  him 
should  he  venture  to  cry  out.  At  length  they  had 
passed  quite  out  of  the  city ;  here  Gestas  paused 
for  a  moment,  and  seeing  that  no  one  was  by,  he 
proceeded  to  bind  the  lad's  hands  securely  behind 
his  back. 

"Thou  art  such  a  proper  liar,"  he  remarked  with 
a  grin,  "that  I  am  minded  to  leave  thee  alive  for  a 
while  longer."  Seth  made  no  reply,  nor  did  he  cry 
out  when  Gestas  playfully  thrust  the  knife  within 
a  hair's  breadth  of  his  throat. 

"If  I  must  die,"  he  thought,  "I  will  at  least  die 
like  a  man."  Then  he  remembered  Anat  sitting 
happily  at  her  spinning  at  the  feet  of  the  gentle 
Mary ;  the  tears  rose  to  his  eyes  and  brimming 
over  rolled  in  great  drops  down  his  brown  cheeks. 


19=  STEPHEN 

He  shook  them  off  valiantly.  "Tears  do  not  be- 
come a  man,"  he  said  to  himself  sternly. 

"  Come,  come,  my  lad,"  cried  Gestas,  "  my  busi- 
ness requireth  haste  as  well  as  diligence.  We 
must  be  getting  on."  Then  feeling  very  merry 
indeed,  he  put  up  his  knife  and  fetched  out  his 
newly-acquired  pouch  ;  shaking  it  so  that  all  the 
gold  pieces  within  clinked  musically,  he  strode 
along,  chanting  a  pagan  rhyme  of  Bacchus  and  the 
pleasures  of  the  vine. 

After  a  time  they  reached  one  of  the  narrow 
defiles  which  wind  between  the  hills  on  either  side 
of  the  Valley  of  Hinnom,  and  here  they  presently 
came  upon  the  encampment,  cunningly  placed 
within  a  copse  of  low-growing  trees  on  the  edge  of 
a  stream. 

Half  a  score  of  men  were  scattered  about  upon 
the  greensward,  some  of  them  eating  and  drinking, 
others  playing  at  dice,  and  others  still  stretched 
out  at  full  length  in  the  shade  asleep. 

The  arrival  of  Gestas  and  his  prisoner  was  greeted 
with  a  shout  of  laughter.  "  Ha !  our  worthy  chief 
hath  made  a  notable  capture,"  cried  one,  saunter- 
ing up  to  Seth  and  looking  down  at  him.  "A 
mighty  man  of  valor  is  he  truly  to  accomplish  the 
overthrow  of  such  as  this.  How  many  bags  of 
gold  didst  thou  take  from  him  ? " 

Gestas  winked  significantly.   "  I  shall  take  three, 


IN  THE  SHADOW  OF  THE  WALL.        193 

if  the  gods  prosper  me,"  he  replied  ;  then  he  bound 
the  lad's  ankles  together,  and  bidding  the  man  keep 
an  eye  upon  the  prisoner,  he  threw  himself  down 
upon  the  ground  and  demanded  food  and  drink. 
Two  or  three  others  gathered  about  him,  and  to 
these  he  talked  rapidly  in  low  tones  as  he  ate  ;  but 
nothing  of  what  was  being  said  reached  the  ears  of 
Seth,  who  was  beginning  to  suffer  intense  agony 
from  the  tightness  of  the  cords  with  which  his 
wrists  and  ankles  were  bound. 

He  ventured  at  length  to  speak  of  this  to  the 
man  who  had  been  detailed  to  watch  him ;  his 
guard  good-naturedly  loosened  the  bonds,  then  re- 
lapsed into  a  doze,  which  presently  deepened  into 
a  heavy  sleep. 

As  the  hours  crept  slowly  by,  Seth  worked  cau- 
tiously and  unceasingly  to  loosen  further  the  cords 
at  his  wrists.  Towards  evening  he  found  to  his 
intense  joy  that  his  hands  were  free.  No  one 
noticed  him  ;  the  man  at  his  feet  still  slept  heavily; 
and  after  awhile  he  ventured  stealthily  to  undo  the 
thongs  which  bound  his  feet  together ;  then  he  sat 
motionless,  not  daring  to  stir  till  the  shadows  should 
deepen. 

As  evening  drew  on,  Gestas  accompanied  by  two 
of  the  other  men  left  the  camp ;  he  cast  a  glance 
in  the  direction  of  the  lad  as  he  passed  by  him, 
and  hesitated  for  a  moment  as  if  he  were  minded 

'3 


194  STEPHEN 

to  examine  his  bonds,  but  finally  went  his  way. 
No  sooner  had  he  disappeared,  than  the  lad  crept 
away  among  the  trees  and  bushes ;  before  many 
minutes  he  had  reached  the  edge  of  the  thicket, 
here  he  paused  breathlessly  to  listen,  then  rising 
to  his  feet,  ran  like  the  wind  in  the  direction  of 
the  city. 

"  I  must  find  Ben  Hesed,"  he  said.    "  He  will 
know  what  to  do." 


CHAPTER  XX. 

WITHOUT   THE   JAFFA    GATE. 

THE  sunset  hour  was  always  a  time  of  peace  and 
peculiar  joy  in  the  house  of  John.  The  toils 
and  dangers  of  the  day  being  well  over,  the  family 
were  wont  to  gather  upon  the  housetop,  there  to 
talk  over  what  had  happened  during  the  hours  that 
were  passed.  The  golden  glories  of  the  dying  day 
served  to  bring  to  their  minds,  each  recurring 
evening,  that  place  beyond  the  toils  and  sorrows  of 
earth  which  their  Lord  had  gone  to  prepare,  and 
toward  which  each  day's  journey  was  swiftly  hur- 
rying them.  Here  the  mother  of  Jesus  sat  enshrined 
in  saintly  peace ;  here  also  were  John  and  Peter 
with  the  other  apostles ;  Anna,  the  wife  of  Caiaphas, 
Stephen,  and  of  late  the  black-eyed  Egyptian 
maiden,  together  with  many  others  who  came  to 
them  for  help,  instruction,  or  healing.  The  num- 
ber of  such  homes  was  daily  increasing  in  Jeru- 

(i95) 


196  STEPHEN 

salem  ;  yet  it  was  at  this  door,  perhaps  more  often 
than  at  any  other,  that  wretched  humanity  knocked 
for  admittance,  and  admittance  was  always  granted. 
For  to  these  had  been  committed  the  ministry  of 
the  ascended  Christ,  with  all  that  this  signified  of 
power  and  of  blessing. 

To-night  into  their  midst  came  Ben  Hesed,  to 
talk  once  more  with  the  apostles  concerning  the 
Crucified  One.  He  brought  with  him  the  scrolls  of 
the  Prophecies,  for  he  was  troubled  about  certain 
points  therein. 

"How  is  it,"  he  said,  "that  it  is  written,  'Ac- 
cursed be  every  one  that  hangeth  upon  the  tree  ? ' 
Surely  God's  Anointed  could  not  be  accursed." 

"  Dost  thou  doubt  concerning  him  already  ? " 
asked  Peter  sternly. 

"  Nay,  I  doubt  not,  man  ;  my  spirit  witnesseth 
within  me  that  the  thing  is  true.  But  I  would  fain 
be  able  to  speak  convincingly  to  them  which  believe 
not,  when  I  shall  have  returned  into  the  wilder- 
ness. It  is  not  granted  to  every  one  to  behold  the 
angel  of  deliverance." 

"Thou  hast  spoken  wisely,  who  art  wise,"  said 
John  gently.  "The  young  man  Stephen  doth 
without  ceasing  make  study  of  that  which  hath 
been  written  aforetime  concerning  the  Christ. 
Yea,  the  spirit  also  hath  revealed  to  him  many 
things  which  have  been  hid  from  the  eyes  of 


WITHOUT  THE  JAFFA  GA  TE.  197 

the  wise ;  and  this  to  our  profit  who  are  sorely 
beset  with  the  duties  of  our  ministry.  Read,  I 
beseech  thee,  my  brother,  from  the  scroll  which 
thou  hast  prepared." 

"  Concerning  him  which  hath  been  hanged,  it  is 
written  in  the  law  thus,"  said  Stephen,  who  a  little 
apart  from  the  others  had  been  poring  in  silence 
over  a  number  of  parchments.  "  '  If  a  man  have 
committed  a  sin  worthy  of  death,  and  he  be  put  to 
death,  and  thou  hang  him  upon  a  tree.  His  body 
shall  not  remain  all  night  upon  the  tree,  but  thou 
shalt  surely  bury  him  that  day ;  for  he  that  is 
hanged  is  accursed  of  God.  That  thy  land  be  not 
denied  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee  for  an 
inheritance.' 

"But  and  if  a  sinless  and  holy  man  be  put  to 
death  by  false  accusation,  how  is  it  that  he  is  ac- 
cursed ?  Herein  is  a  great  mystery,  which  as  yet 
we  see  only  in  part,  nor  indeed  can  it  be  appre- 
hended of  mortals,  that  God  gave  his  only  begotten 
Son,  not  only  that  he  should  live  amongst  us  a 
holy  and  sinless  life,  but  that  he  should  yield  up 
that  life  in  all  meekness  at  the  hands  of  his  ene- 
mies. This  also  being  the  will  of  the  Father  con- 
cerning him ;  as  he  himself  said,  and  as  the  voice 
of  many  prophets  declare— who  being  dead  yet 
speak  to  us  in  the  words  of  the  scripture.  Are  we 
not  every  one  accursed,  for  we  have  sinned  in  the 


198  STEPHEN 

sight  of  God ;  and  he,  the  sinless  one,  hath 
through  the  infinite  compassion  of  the  Father 
become  accursed  in  our  place.  Even  as  it  is  writ- 
ten by  the  hand  of  the  prophet  Isaiah,  '  He  was 
wounded  for  our  transgressions,  he  was  bruised 
for  our  iniquities,  the  chastisement  of  our  peace 
was  upon  him  and  with  his  stripes  we  are  healed.' 
"And  behold  these  sayings — '  I  gave  my  back  to 
the  smiters,  and  my  cheeks  to  them  that  plucked 
off  the  hair :  I  hid  not  my  face  from  shame  and 
from  spitting ' — '  The  assembly  of  the  wicked  have 
closed  in  upon  me,  they  pierced  my  hands  and 
my  feet ' — '  They  parted  my  garments  among  them, 
and  cast  lots  upon  my  vesture ' — '  They  gave  me 
also  gall  for  my  meat,  and  in  my  thirst  they  gave 
me  vinegar  to  drink ' — '  I  became  a  reproach  unto 
them,  when  they  looked  upon  me  they  wagged 
their  heads.'  And  this,  'his  visage  was  so  marred 
more  than  any  man,  and  his  form  more  than  the 
sons  of  men'— 'He  was  despised  and  rejected  of 
men  ;  a  man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief ; 
and  we  hid  as  it  were  our  faces  from  him ' — '  He 
was  taken  from  prison  and  from  judgment  and  who 
shall  declare  his  generation,  for  he  was  cut  off 
out  of  the  land  of  the  living,  for  the  transgression 
of  my  people  was  he  stricken  ' — '  And  he  made 
his  grave  with  the  wicked  and  with  the  rich  in 
his  death.' 


WITHOUT  THE  JAFFA  GA  TE.  199 

"All  these  sayings  I  found  concerning  him," 
continued  the  young  man  gravely,  "written  many 
generations  before  his  birth ;  they  might  have 
been  writ  yesterday  by  one  who  witnessed  his 
death.  Also  by  the  hand  of  the  prophet  Daniel  is 
this :  'And  after  three  score  and  two  weeks  shall 
Messiah  be  cut  off,  but  not  for  himself,  and  the 
people  of  the  prince  that  shall  come  shall  destroy 
the  city  and  the  sanctuary ;  and  the  end  thereof 
shall  be  as  a  flood,  and  unto  the  end  of  the  war 
desolations  are  determined.' ' 

"  The  end  is  yet  to  come,"  said  Ben  Hesed,  in- 
voluntarily clenching  his  strong  hands  and  looking 
toward  the  walls  of  the  mighty  temple,  which 
shone  white  and  mystical  in  the  soft  light  of  the 
rising  moon. 

"  He  himself  foretold  all  that  hath  happened," 
said  John  sorrowfully,  "  and  what  is  yet  to  come ; 
how  that  he  should  be  delivered  up  to  the  Romans, 
and  should  be  mocked  and  spitefully  entreated,  spit- 
ted upon,  scourged  and  crucified.  It  lay  heavily 
upon  him  so  that  even  he,  who  walked  ever  in  the 
light  of  God,  was  exceeding  sorrowful ;  and  when 
he  looked  to  us  for  sympathy  that  last  awful  night, 
we — slept.  God  forgive  us  !  " 

"  He  hath  forgiven  us  all  things,"  said  Peter. 
"  He  bore  our  sins  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree. 
For  the  love  of  him,  shall  we  not  gladly  suffer 


200  STEPHEN 

what  shall  yet  befall  us?  for  he  told  us  plainly 
that  the  world  would  hate  us,  even  as  it  hated 
him  ;  that  we  also  should  be  persecuted,  scourged, 
and  put  to  death.  Yet  how  soon  will  all  be  past, 
and  then  we  shall  go  to  him." 

In  the  silence  which  followed  these  words  a  loud 
knocking  was  heard  at  the  outer  gate  of  the  court- 
yard. Stephen  arose  quietly  from  his  place  and 
descended  the  stair.  When  he  had  opened  the 
door,  he  saw  standing  in  the  street  a  man.  He  was 
meanly  clad,  as  Stephen  could  see  by  the  dim 
light ;  therefore  his  voice  was  more  gentle  than 
usual  as  he  said  :— 

"  What  wilt  thou,  friend  ? " 

"Is  there  here  a  young  man  called  Stephen  ?" 

"  I  am  he  ;  wilt  thou  enter  ? " 

The  man  shuffled  uneasily  on  his  feet,  then 
looked  furtively  up  and  down  the  street.  "  There 
be  a  sick  man  who  hath  need  of  thee  for  healing 
and  strong  words  of  thy  faith,"  he  said  at  length, 
fixing  his  eyes  upon  Stephen. 

"  Wouldst  thou  not  rather  inquire  for  one  of  the 
twelve?" 

"  Nay,  it  was  for  one  Stephen,  a  Greek,  I  was 
bidden  to  ask.  The  man  I  have  spoken  of  is  also 
a  Greek,  and  would  not  ask  for  healing  at  the 
hands  of  a  Jew." 

"The  healing  cometh  from  God,"  said  Stephen 


WITHOUT  THE  JAFFA  GATE.  201 

gravely.  "  I  will  come  though.  Where  is  the  sick 
man?" 

"  I  will  show  thee  where  he  lieth,"  said  the  man 
eagerly ;  "  and  I  pray  thee  to  make  haste,  for  his 
case  is  desperate." 

"  Let  me  first  speak  to  them  that  are  within,  I 
will  join  thee  immediately,"  said  Stephen,  stepping 
back  into  the  courtyard  and  leaving  the  door  partly 
open. 

The  man  listened  to  the  sound  of  his  retreating 
steps  as  he  ascended  the  stair.  "They  be  all 
above,"  he  muttered,  stepping  softly  within.  "  Now 
if  by  any  chance — Ha  !  what  is  this  ?  A  capital 
warm  cloak,  'twill  serve  to  shelter  me  these  chill 
nights.  Body  of  Jove !  but  I  am  always  in  luck  of 
late!" 

When  Stephen  returned,  the  man  was  waiting 
humbly  without  as  he  had  left  him.  The  two 
immediately  set  forth,  the  man  going  before  ;  they 
walked  swiftly  through  the  dark  narrow  streets, 
the  stranger  glancing  frequently  over  his  shoulder 
to  make  sure  that  Stephen  was  following.  After  a 
time  he  paused,  "'Tis  without  the  walls,"  he  mut- 
tered hoarsely.  "  We  must  pass  through  the  Jaffa 
Gate." 

"There  is  moonlight,"  said  Stephen  rather 
absently,  raising  his  eyes  to  the  heavens,  where  in 
truth  his  thoughts  had  been  as  he  followed  his 
strange  guide. 


202  STEPHEN 

"There  is  moonlight,"  repeated  the  man  with  a 
hoarse  chuckle.  "  So  much  the  better." 

Stephen  looked  at  the  speaker  more  attentively 
than  he  had  done  at  first ;  the  white  light  which 
poured  down  from  above  revealing  clearly  every 
feature  of  the  brutal  face  before  him.  He  started 
visibly.  "  I  have  somewhere  seen  thee  before !  "  he 
exclaimed.  "  Nay  I  know  now,  thou  art  of  them 
who  formerly " 

The  man  laughed  aloud.  "  I  am  Gestas  ;  second 
in  authority  to  Dumachus,  who  was  chief  of  our 
band — and  your  father.  Since  the  Romans  put  an 
end  to  him,  along  with  Titus  and  the  Nazarene,  I 
have  been  chief." 

"  And  is  it  one  of  your  followers  who  is  in  need 
of  healing  ? "  asked  Stephen,  shrinking  back  a  lit- 
tle with  something  of  his  old-time  dread. 

"  It  is.     Art  thou  afraid  ? " 

"  No,"  returned  Stephen  quietly,  "  I  am  not 
afraid ;  surely  of  all  men  ye  are  most  in  need  of 
the  mighty  help  of  the  risen  Lord ;  'twere  most 
fitting  if  so  be  that  I  may  bring  it  into  your 
midst." 

Gestas  looked  at  him  with  an  indescribable 
mixture  of  contempt  and  pity.  "  Thou  art  a  pretty 
enough  fellow,"  he  said,  running  his  eyes  ever 
the  slender  but  well-knit  figure.  "A  thought  too 
pretty  indeed.  Why  art  thou  contented  to  pass 


WITHOUT  THE  JAFFA  GATE.  203 

thy  days  in  the  company  of  a  band  of  crazy  fools, 
who  will  end  as  their  Master  did — though  he 
merited  it  not — on  the  cross.  Why  take  the 
devil's  wages  without  the  devil's  pleasures  first  ? 
If  now,  I  die  on  the  cross,  it  will  be  for  reasons 
better  than  preaching,  praying,  and  the  healing 
of  dirty  beggar  folk." 

"Afterward  is  the  judgment,"  said  Stephen. 

"A  fig  for  the  afterwards  !  "  cried  Gestas.  "  Who 
knows  anything  about  that  ?  But,  come,"  he 
added  with  a  sudden  change  in  his  tones,  "it  lacks 
but  an  hour  of  midnight ;  thou  must  be  gone  be- 
fore that  time." 

"  I  am  not  in  haste  to  be  gone,"  said  Stephen 
gently.  "  I  will  remain  until  morning,  if  I  can  do 
anything  to  help." 

"There  is  naught  that  thou  canst  do — after 
midnight,"  said  Gestas  gruffly.  "  If  there  is  an 
afterwards,"  he  muttered,  "it  will  make  no  differ- 
ence to  him." 

The  two  walked  silently  for  a  time,  pausing 
at  length  at  the  edge  of  a  low-growing  coppice, 
through  the  interlacing  branches  of  which  could 
be  seen  the  fitful  flash  of  a  dying  fire.  Making 
their  way  through  the  thicket  by  a  winding  path 
evidently  well  known  to  Gestas,  the  twain  pres- 
ently found  themselves  in  the  centre  of  the 
encampment. 


204  STEPHEN 

"  Where  is  the  dying  man  ? "  said  Stephen, 
eager  to  begin  his  ministry  of  love. 

For  answe^  Gestas  seized  him  by  the  arm  and 
hurried  him  forward  into  the  midst  of  a  dark 
group  of  figures  which  seemed  to  be  awaiting 
their  approach.  "Thou  art  the  dying  man  !  "  he 
whispered  hoarsely.  "  Prepare  for  thy  afterwards 
swiftly." 

Half  involuntarily,  Stephen  made  a  mighty 
unavailing  effort  to  free  himself  from  the  grasp 
of  the  ruffian  who  held  him ;  life  on  a  sudden 
looked  very  sweet  to  him.  It  could  not  be  that 
God  had  appointed  such  an  end  as  this  for  one 
who  would  serve  him  long  and  faithfully.  Surely 
he  was  too  young  to  die.  Yet  not  younger  than 
Titus,  who  had  gone  by  the  horrible  way  of  the 
cross  to  be  with  him  in  Paradise.  At  the  thought 
a  great  peace  possessed  his  soul.  "  Not  my  will 
but  thine  be  done,"  he  murmured  aloud,  raising 
his  eyes  to  the  stars  which  glittered  keenly 
through  the  interlacing  branches  overhead. 

"  So  this  is  the  man  !  "  cried  a  rough  voice,  as 
a  dozen  hands  bound  him  to  the  trunk  of  a  tree. 
"  It  may  be  that  if  he  hath  the  power  to  heal,  as 
they  say,  he  will  be  master  also  of  other  magic 
arts,  which  he  will  use  to  our  undoing.  Best 
make  way  with  him  quickly." 

Stephen  looked  about  on  the  crowd  of  evil  faces 


WITHOUT  THE  JAFFA  GATE.  205 

which  surrounded  him,  and  a  great  wave  of  pity 
for  his  tormentors  swept  over  him.  So  far  were 
they  from  God,  so  deep  in  unfathomable  depths 
of  misery.  For  himself  he  felt  no  fear ;  from 
earth  to  heaven  was  but  a  single  step. 

"Men  and  brethren,"  he  cried,  and  his  voice 
rang  out  clear  and  sweet  upon  the  startled  air. 
"  Let  me  live  for  yet  a  little  space,  till  I  shall  de- 
clare unto  you  the  words  of  life.  For  such  as  you, 
Jesus  died  upon  the  cross  ;  he  will  save  you  from 
out  the  misery  of  this  present  life,  and  afterward 
give  you  the  life  that  endeth  not.  Only  believe  on 
him  and  forsake  your  evil  ways." 

"  Prate  not  to  us  of  thy  Jewish  Messiah,"  cried 
one.  "  He  is  not  for  us,  even  if  what  thou  sayest  be 
true.  We  must  die  as  we  have  lived.  We  be  un- 
circumcised  Greeks  that  care  not  for  an  everlasting 
abode  with  them  that  spit  upon  us  in  this  life." 

"  Nay,  but  he  died  for  the  sins  of  the  world,  and 
he  is  risen  from  death  to  abide  forever  with  the 
Father  which  made  the  Greek  as  well  as  the  Jew, 
and  loveth  both  alike." 

"Give  to  us  a  sign!"  cried  another.  "If  what 
thou  hast  said  be  true,  let  the  man  Jesus  come 
down  out  of  the  heavens  and  deliver  thee,  then  will 
we  believe  on  him;  nay,  more,  thou  shalt  be  our 
leader  in  place  of  Gestas  here — who  is  too  stupid 
to  be  chief." 


206  STEPHEN 

At  this  Gestas  swore  a  great  oath  of  rage. 
"Stand  back,  all  of  you,"  he  cried.  "I  will  smite 
him ;  and  there  is  none  that  shall  deliver  him  out 
of  my  hand,  either  on  earth  or  in  heaven." 

Then  he  raised  his  arm ;  Stephen  caught  the 
keen  glitter  of  the  steel.  He  closed  his  eyes.  His 
lips  moved  in  prayer.  Something  smote  him  on 
the  breast,  but  it  was  not  the  soul-delivering  blade, 
as  he  dimly  realized  ere  his  senses  left  him.  Ges- 
tas, stricken  full  in  the  heart  by  an  arrow  sped  from 
the  bow  of  an  unseen  archer,  had  leapt  straight  into 
the  air  without  a  cry,  then  falling  limply,  his  head 
striking  against  the  prisoner,  he  lay,  a  grim  un- 
sightly heap,  at  Stephen's  feet. 

The  others  stood  for  an  instant  aghast,  then  with 
wild  cries  of  fear  they  fled  away  into  the  thicket. 

"  I  fear  the  knaves  have  done  for  him,  whoever 
he  be,"  cried  a  voice,  as  the  figure  of  a  young  man 
bounded  out  of  the  bushes. 

"  Nay,  my  son,"  said  Ben  Hesed,  who  had  fol- 
lowed more  deliberately,  "the  miscreant  had  but 
raised  his  blade  when  my  arrow  smote  him ;  let  us 
loose  the  man  here  and  get  away  from  this  place 
with  all  speed,  for  they  will  return  and  fall  upon 
us,  if  they  find  that  we  be  few." 

"I  must  fetch  the  white  dromedary,"  said  the 
voice  of  Seth,  at  his  elbow.  "  It  is  in  yonder  glade." 

"  Be  quick,  then ;  there  is  no  time  to  lose  !  " 


WITHOUT  THE  JAFFA  GA  TE.  207 

The  moon  had  looked  down  for  a  full  hour  longer 
upon  the  dark  motionless  something,  which  lay 
just  where  it  had  fallen  on  the  soft  grass,  when  the 
thicket  again  opened  and  a  man  peered  out.  He 
looked  about  him  cautiously,  then  turned  and  spoke 
reassuringly  to  some  one  behind  him. 

"There  is  no  one  here,  Joca;  come  on  !" 

"It  was  a  bolt  from  heaven  assuredly  which  smote 
him  ;  for  there  is  naught  missing  save  the  man," 
said  the  other,  looking  keenly  about  in  his  turn  at 
the  familiar  scene;  "Let  us  get  away  from  this 
place  ;  I  am  sick  of  it." 

"Ay !  we  will  return  to  Greece  where  the  old 
gods  yet  rule ;  I  like  not  the  ways  of  the  god  of 
this  land ;  but  first —  And  the  speaker  cau- 
tiously approached  the  body  of  Gestas.  "  He  hath 
something  about  him,  which  we  shall  have  more 
need  of  than  he.  Ah  !  here  it  is,  ten  good  pieces 
— if  he  have  not  already  spent  some  of  them." 

"But  there  were  to  have  been  thirty  pieces 
more." 

"Ay !  and  more's  the  pity  that  they  be  lost  to 
us." 

"Why  need  they  be  lost  to  us,  man ?" 

"What  meanest  thou  ?" 

Joca  whispered  something  in  his  companion's 
ear,  whereat  the  other  chuckled  hoarsely. 

"Why  not?''  he  cried,  "thou  art  a  son  of 
Minerva  to  have  thought  it." 


208  STEPHEN 

The  servant  of  Annas  had  waited  outside  the 
Jaffa  gate  for  nearly  two  hours ;  he  was  growing 
impatient  at  last. 

"  I  will  not  stay  longer,"  he  muttered,  "  some- 
thing hath  miscarried  irr  the  matter;  it  will  be 
to-morrow — if  the  knave  hath  not  failed  me  alto- 
gether." 

But  even  as  he  spoke  he  saw  a  man  approaching 
him.  He  at  once  stood  forth  in  the  full  moonlight, 
bidding  his  companions  remain  within  the  shadow 
of  the  wall. 

The  man  came  up  to  him  swiftly.  "Art  thou 
he  who  hath  thirty  pieces  of  gold  to  give  in  ex- 
change for  a  strange  commodity  ?" 

"  I  am  he.     Hast  thou  the  commodity  ?" 

"Ay !  it  is  here ;  wilt  thou  see  it  ? " 

The  Jew  shuddered  at  sight  of  the  bag  which 
the  other  tendered  him.  "  No  ! "  he  said  shortly. 
"Take  the  money  and  be  gone."  Then  he  turned 
to  one  of  the  slaves  who  waited  his  orders.  "  Take 
this,"  he  commanded,  "and fetch  it  to  the  palace." 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

NOT   A    SPARROW    FALLETH. 
I 

SOMETHING  more  than  two  years  after  the 
events  narrated  in  the  preceding  chapter,  a 
little  group  of  men  might  have  been  seen  standing 
in  the  portico  of  a  building  known  as  the  Syna- 
gogue of  the  Nazarenes.  They  were  conversing  in 
low  tones,  but  their  excited  gestures  and  gloomy 
faces  betrayed  the  fact  that  the  topic  which  they 
were  discussing  was  not  a  pleasant  one. 

"  There  is  unquestioned  and  open  partiality  on 
the  part  of  the  apostles  toward  them  that  be  of 
Hebrew  birth  and  descent,"  said  one  bitterly. 
"  Though  we  be  circumcised  and  walk  after  the  law 
in  all  diligence,  the  fact  that  we  are  Greeks  can  be 
neither  overlooked  nor  forgiven." 

"I  mind  not  what  they  think;"  cried  another 
sturdily,  "  a  Greek  is  as  good  as  a  Jew  any  day,  and 
we  be  all  servants  of  one  Master,  even  Christ ;  but 
14  (209) 


2io  STEPHEN 

; 

it  is  not  just  that  our  widows  and  fatherless  be 
neglected  in  the  daily  distributions,  for  we  have  all 
given  freely  of  our  substance  into  the  common 
fund." 

"  I  like  not  to  boast,  my  Andronicus,"  said  the 
third  man  almost  in  a  whisper,  "  but  I  cannot  for- 
bear the  thought  that  had  I  retained  in  mine  own 
power  what  I  aforetime  laid  down  at  the  apostles' 
feet — freely  and  in  all  humility  of  mind,  these  tales 
of  neglect  would  not  now  be  coming  to  our  ears." 

None  of  the  three  had  observed  that  a  fourth  man 
had  joined  himself  to  the  group,  till  the  newcomer 
spoke.  "  The  neglect  of  which  thou  dost  complain, 
my  brothers,"  he  said  in  a  deep  musical  voice,  "  is 
not  a  neglect  born  of  contempt  for  us  because  we 
are  Greeks.  I  know  these  men  through  and 
through  ;  they  rest  not  day  nor  night,  but  labor 
incessantly,  and  in  all  unselfishness  and  love  for 
the  church,  yet  is  the  burden  too  heavy  for  them. 
Christ  healed  many  that  were  sick  and  fed  many 
that  were  hungry.  Yet  there  remain  multitudes  of 
them  that  are  blind,  of  them  that  are  lepers,  of 
them  that  hunger,  who  were  also  blind,  leprous,  and 
hungry,  when  our  Master  walked  the  earth.  They 
came  not  unto  him,  and  how  could  he  succor  them, 
being  burdened  with  this  humanity  which  doth  irk 
us  all?" 

"What  thou  hast  said,  my  Stephen,  is  true,"  ad> 


NOT  A  SPARROW  FALLETH.  211 

mitted  Andronictfs.  "But  it  is  also  true  that 
among  the  Jewish  widows  there  is  no  lack,  while 
Priscilla  and  her  little  ones  remained  two  days 
without  food.  Had  she  refrained  from  joining  her- 
self to  us,  she  would  have  continued  to  receive  aid 
from  the  Temple  treasury ;  the  woman  herself  de- 
clared it,  and  I  could  not  gainsay  her  had  I  wished 
it.  If  there  be  not  neglect  born  of  contempt,  there 
is  assuredly  a  lack  of  wisdom." 

"What  hath  been  done  for  Priscilla?" 

"  My  wife  ministered  to  her  necessities,  as  well 
as  to  those  of  Julia  and  Eunice." 

"Hast  thou  spoken  of  this  to  Peter?"  asked 
Stephen,  looking  troubled  and  turning  to  one  of 
the  others. 

"  Nay,  I  have  not  spoken  of  it ;  there  should  be 
no  need  to  speak,  say  I." 

"  Forget  not  the  word  of  the  Master,  '  Judge  not 
that  ye  be  not  judged,'"  said  Stephen,  gravely. 
We  must  look  carefully  within  before  we  lightly  cen- 
sure any  man — least  of  all  the  chosen  and  anointed 
ones  of  our  Lord."  Then  after  a  thoughtful  pause 
he  added,  "  I  will  myself  speak  with  John  concern- 
ing these  things. 

The  man  who  had  first  spoken,  and  who  was  called 
Apelles,  looked  after  him  as  he  walked  away. 
"  From  him  I  can  suffer  reproof  as  from  no 
other;"  he  said,  "he  hath  within  him  the  very 
spirit  of  the  ascended  One." 


2i2  STEPHEN 

"  Like  the  ascended  One,  he  hath  also  enemies 
in  high  places;"  said  Andronicus,  significantly, 
"the  continued  attempts  made  upon  his  life  bear 
witness  to  the  fact." 

"What  dost  thou  mean?  He  was  threatened, 
it  is  true,  by  certain  of  the  Sadducees  because  of 
his  boldness  in  declaring  the  resurrection  in  their 
very  midst,  but  no  man  laid  hands  on  him." 

"  The  Herodians,  and  especially  the  Pharisee 
from  Tarsus,  are  bitter  against  him  for  some  rea- 
son, which  perhaps  we  understand  not  wholly. 
Hast  thou  forgotten  his  rescue  by  Ben  Hesed 
more  than  two  years  ago ;  and  also  what  happened 
thrice  since — when  by  the  barest  chance  he  es- 
caped with  his  life  ? " 

"  True,  he  has  been  mercifully  preserved  amidst 
great  dangers ;  but  each  time  there  was  a  simple 
enough  cause  for  the  peril  without  attributing  it 
to  an  enemy,"  said  Apelles,  thoughtfully.  "  Once 
it  was  from  robbers,  who  would  have  slain  him 
from  the  mere  lust  of  murder,  as  is  their  wont. 
Again,  a  heavy  stone  fell  from  the  wall  above  as 
he  spake  to  the  people,  barely  missing  his  head  in 
its  descent." 

"  Yes ;  I  know  all  that  thou  wouldst  say ;  "  broke 
in  the  other,  "but  listen  !  Yesterday  a  basket  of 
fruit  was  sent  him,  bearing  a  scroll  inscribed  thus  : 
'This  fruit  is  for  the  saintly  Stephen,  from  one 


NOT  A  SPARROW  FALLETH.  213 

who  believes  that  the  apples  of  Paradise  are  none 
too  fair  for  such  as  he.'  " 

"A  pretty  conceit  assuredly  ! " 

"A  most  lovely  conceit !  Had  he  eaten,  as  the 
sender  supposed  that  he  would  do,  even  now  would 
the  apples  of  Paradise  be  within  his  grasp." 

"What  meanest  thou?" 

'"I  will  not  eat  of  this  fair  fruit,'  said  Stephen, 
'  instead  I  will  bear  it  to  the  aged  Clement,  who 
hath  only  of  late  joined  himself  to  us,'  but  while 
he  waited  for  a  convenient  season  for  taking  the 
gift,  the  fruit  stood  without  on  the  ledge  of  the 
window,  and  the  birds  came  and  pecked  it.  Before 
they  could  fly  away  after  their  stolen  meal  the 
little  creatures  dropped  dead." 

"  Horror  !  the  fruit  was  poisoned  then  ? " 

"Assuredly.  Now  thou  seest  that  he  hath  an 
enemy." 

"But  who?" 

"  I  have  my  suspicions,  and  have  warned  him. 
His  answer  was  this,  '  He  is  with  me  alway  even 
unto  the  end ;  until  my  appointed  time  there  is 
nothing  that  shall  be  able  to  hurt  me ;  neither 
shall  I  fear  what  man  can  do  to  me.' " 

"  Wonderful !  I  have  confessed  that  Jesus  is 
the  Christ,  but  I  fear  me  my  faith  in  him  is  but  a 
poor  thing  compared  with  that  of  Stephen ;  had  the 
like  happened  to  me  I  should  have  fled  the  city." 


2i4  STEPHEN 

"  'Twas  what  I  urged  upon  him.  Go  away  from 
Jerusalem,  I  said.  There  be  Jews  in  every  city  of 
Greece  who  would  gladly  hear  thee  of  the  Christ ; 
in  the  land  of  thy  fathers  shalt  thou  dwell  in 
safety.  But  he  shook  his  head.  '  The  day  is  not 
far  distant,'  he  made  answer,  'when  not  alone  to 
the  Jews  shall  this  salvation  be  preached,  but  unto 
every  people  and  kindred  and  tongue  beneath  the 
heavens  ;  for  Christ  came  to  save  the  world,  and 
therefore  shall  the  world  be  saved ;  but  it  is  not  I 
who  am  called  to  this  work  ;  my  place  is  here.'  " 

While  the  two  Greeks  thus  spoke  one  to  another 
of  Stephen,  the  young  man  himself  was  passing 
rapidly  through  the  streets  towards  his  home,  his 
thoughts  busied  chiefly  with  what  Andronicus  had 
told  him  concerning  the  daily  ministrations.  "The 
matter  must  be  looked  to,"  he  said  to  himself. 
"  The  twelve  are  not  sufficient  for  the  work,  God 
be  praised.  So  mightily  hath  the  spirit  worked 
with  and  for  us,  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant 
when  the  cross  shall  cease  to  be  a  symbol  of  shame 
and  hissing  among  men  and  shall  everywhere  be 
hailed  the  sacred  token  of  deliverance." 

Communing  thus  within  himself  he  lifted  up  his 
eyes  and  beheld  the  square  which  lay  before  the 
palace  of  Pilate.  "  It  was  here,"  he  murmured, 
"that  they  brought  him  on  the  day  of  his  death. 
It  was  here  that  the  people  cried  out  '  Crucify  him 


NOT  A  SPARROW  FALLETH.  215 

— Crucify  him  ! '  Ah,  that  awful  day — nay  rather 
that  day  of  days,  decreed  from  the  foundations  of 
the  world  ! "  Then  he  passed  on  into  the  square, 
being  minded  to  look  for  a  moment  on  the  very 
place  where  he  knew  the  Man  of  Sorrows  had 
stood  so  patiently  on  that  last  day  of  his  earthly 
life.  As  he  approached  the  mosaic  of  many-colored 
marbles  which  marked  the  place  of  the  judgment 
seat,  a  Roman  chariot  containing  two  men  and 
draw.n  by  a  pair  of  powerful  black  horses  dashed 
into  the  square. 

"  Dost  see  that  fellow  yonder,  Herod  ? "  ex- 
claimed the  man  who  stood  behind  the  driver.  "  I 
mean  the  one  with  the  white  robe.  'Tis  that  beg- 
garly Greek,  Stephen,  who  hath  been  setting  the 
city  on  an  uproar  of  late  with  his  driveling  cant. 
I  hate  the  whole  blasphemous  brood,  but  he  is 
most  contemptible  of  all." 

"  I  will  engage  to  run  him  down,  if  thou  sayest 
it,"  said  the  man  who  held  the  reins,  and  across 
whose  white  tunic  streamed  a  scarf  of  the  imperial 
purple. 

"  Be  it  so ! "  answered  his  companion  with  a 
malignant  scowl.  "  'Twill  be  a  happy  accident 
that  rids  the  world  of  such  an  one." 

"An  accident  of  course,"  said  the  other  with  a 
•brutal  laugh.  "  Who  would  dare  question  it  ? " 
And  he  brought  the  long  lash  with  a  whistling 


216  STEPHEN 

curl  about  the  glossy  flanks  of  the  horses ;  they 
leapt  forward  as  one.  Something  else  also  leapt  for- 
ward. There  was  a  cry,  and  the  sound  of  the  iron 
hoofs  was  horribly  dulled  for  an  instant,  then  the 
chariot  thundered  on,  and  swept  into  the  avenue 
beyond  the  palace. 

"  By  the  gods,  Alexander ! "  cried  Herod.  "  Didst 
see  the  man  who  leapt  forward  from  behind  ?  He 
dragged  the  beggar  forth  just  in  time;  another 
instant  and  he  would  have  been  crushed  beneath 
our  wheels." 

"  I  saw,  yes,"  answered  the  other,  grinding  his 
teeth.  "  The  wretch  bears  a  charmed  life." 

"We  will  drive  back  to  inquire  of  the  accident," 
pursued  Herod  with  a  sneering  laugh.  "Pollux 
there  struck  something  softer  than  the  pavement. 
Hey !  Pollux,  my  beauty  ?  If  it  chanced  to  be  the 
man's  head  he  will  prate  no  more  of  dead  malefac- 
tors— nor  yet  of  live  ones.  How  now,  fellow !  " 
he  shouted,  reining  in  his  struggling  horses  as 
they  approached  the  borders  of  the  crowd  which 
had  instantly  gathered  at  the  scene  of  the  acci- 
dent. "  Was  the  man  hurt  seriously  ? '' 

"Not  seriously,  they  say,  your  Highness," 
replied  the  man  to  whom  he  had  spoken,  bowing 
low  at  sight  of  his  royal  questioner;  "but  the 
stranger  who  rescued  him  hath  beyond  doubt  suf- 
fered a  mortal  wound." 


NOT  A  SPARROW  FALLETH.  217 

"The  more  fool  he!"  cried  Herod  contemptu- 
ously. As  the  horses  again  sprang  forward  in 
obedience  to  the  lash,  he  turned  to  his  companion 
with  a  wicked  laugh.  "  'Twere  a  pretty  pastime  for 
our  leisure  to  root  out  these  pestiferous  fellows  from 
the  Holy  City,  and  'twould  doubtless  cover  a  mul- 
titude of  sins." 

"  May  we  count  on  thine  assistance,  my  prince  ?  " 
said  Alexander  eagerly.  "  We  who  are  against  the 
Nazarenes  grow  fewer  each  day ;  already  the 
greater  number  of  Pharisees  either  believe  or  re- 
gard them  with  tolerance.  These  all  declare  openly 
that  the  dead  carpenter  of  Galilee  is  alive  and  is 
like  to  return  any  day  to  rule  over  Israel." 

Herod's  face  darkened.  "  Let  him  return  and 
attempt  it ! "  he  cried  angrily.  "  Behind  me — is 
Rome." 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

BY   THE   THORNY    WAYS    OF    HIS   SIN. 

UPON  a  couch  in  the  house  of  John  lay  the 
stranger  who  had  rescued  Stephen  from 
death.  About  him  were  gathered  those  of  the 
household  who  chanced  to  be  at  home  when  the 
sad  little  procession  had  arrived. 

"He  gave  his  life  for  mine,"  said  Stephen, 
solemnly,  looking  down  at  the  quiet  face  across 
which  the  shadow  of  approaching  death  had  already 
fallen.  "And  God  hath  accepted  the  sacrifice ;  it 
is  not  his  will  that  be  be  restored.  Would  that  I 
knew  to  whom  I  owe  this  debt  of  gratitude  before 
he  goes  hence." 

"  He  will  recover  consciousness,  I  think,  shortly," 
said  Mary,  laying  her  cool  white  fingers  on  the 
brow  of  the  sufferer.  He  is  assuredly  not  a  Jew," 
she  added,  gazing  intently  at  the  dark  face  upon 
the  pillows.  "  Fetch  me  a  basin  and  sponge,  my 
(218) 


BY  THE  THORNY  WAYS  OF  HIS  SIN.     219 

daughter;  it  may  be  that  the  cool  water  will 
revive  him." 

The  girl  to  whom  she  had  spoken  hastened  to 
obey.  As  she  stooped  to  pour  water  from  a  jar 
which  stood  without  in  the  courtyard,  a  young 
man  hurriedly  entered  the  enclosure. 

"Where  is  Stephen?"  he  cried,  as  his  eye  fell 
upon  the  maiden.  "I  heard  but  just  now  that 
Herod  had  crushed  him  beneath  his  chariot 
wheels.  A  brutal  deed.  He  that  told  me  was  an 
eye-witness." 

"  By  the  mercy  of  God,"  answered  the  girl  with 
a  half  sob,  "he  hath  escaped  with  a  bruise;  an- 
other was  smitten  in  his  place,  and  he  is  dying.  I 
must  hasten  with  the  water  !  "  and  she  sprang  up 
and  hurried  away. 

The  young  man  followed,  and  approaching  the 
group  that  surrounded  the  couch,  he  looked  over 
the  shoulder  of  the  young  girl  as  she  held  the 
basin  ready  for  the  hand  of  Mary.  He  started  as 
his  eye  fell  upon  the  wounded  man. 

"He  is  an  Egyptian  ! "  he  exclaimed. 

Even  as  he  spoke,  the  man  opened  his  eyes. 
"Water  !  "  he  gasped  faintly.  Stephen  raised  the 
languid  head  while  the  skilful  hand  of  Mary  held 
the  cup. 

"Lay  him  down  again,  gently — so,"  she  said  in 
a  low  voice. 


220  STEPHEN 

Then  Stephen  bent  over  the  pillow.  "  Canst  thou 
tell  us  who  thou  art,  and  why  it  was  that  thou  didst 
choose  the  life  of  another  rather  than  thine  own  ? " 

The  dull  eyes  brightened  a  little,  "Did  I  save 
him  ?  Ah,  yes — thanks  be  to  the  gods  !  thou  art 
alive.  Did  any  hurt  befall  thee  ? " 

"  Nay — but  I  live,  alas,  because  thou  art  to  die." 

"  It  is  well,  not  only  that  thou  wilt  live,  but  that 
I  shall  die,  if  the  God  whom  thou  dost  proclaim  will 
but  count  my  worthless  life  a  sacrifice  for  my  many 
sins." 

"Nay,  my  brother,"  said  Stephen,  "if  thou  dost 
but  believe  on  Jesus  the  Christ,  there  is  no  sacrifice 
needed  for  sin ;  he  gave  himself  a  sacrifice  for 
our  transgressions  because  of  the  love  which  he 
bare  us." 

"  It  cannot  be  that  he  loves  me,"  said  the  sick 
man.  "Listen  till  I  shall  tell  thee  all.  I  am  an 
Egyptian,  my  name  is  Amu 

The  maiden  who  still  stood  at  his  bedside  grew 
very  white  at  the  sound  of  that  name,  and  the  new- 
comer, who  was  watching  from  behind,  reached 
quietly  out  and  took  the  basin  from  her  nerveless 
fingers.  "Anat,"  he  whispered,  "'tis  a  common 
enough  name." 

"It  is  he,"  she  returned,  "I  know  the  voice — 
but  listen ! " 

"Early   in   life,"   continued  the  Egyptian,   his 


BY  THE  THORNY  W 'A  YS  OF  HIS  SIN.     221 

voice  gathering  strength,  "  I  was  even  as  others, 
neither  better,  nor  worse, — 'tis  not  of  those  days 
I  would  speak,  but  of  the  days  when  I  was  a  man 
grown — then  it  chanced  that  there  came  a  certain 
stranger  out  of  the  wilderness  with  his  wife  and 
child,  and  sojourned  in  Egypt.  He  possessed  gold 
and  bought  for  himself  a  plot  of  land  not  far  from 
the  river.  This  he  tilled  with  industry,  so  that 
after  a  time  he  gained  more  gold  and  bought  still 
another  bit  of  tillage.  Not  much,  for  land  was 
costty  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  river.  I  was  his 
neighbor  and  I  was  not  unfriendly  to  him,  for  he 
was  a  stranger  and  knew  not  the  ways  of  the 
people,  nor  at  the  first  the  proper  grains  to  cast 
into  the  earth.  And  because  I  helped  him  in  such 
small  matters  he  loved  me  and  clave  to  me,  as  also 
his  wife ;  and  I  was  ever  an  honored  guest  in  their 
house.  After  a  time,  there  came  a  great  sickness 
over  all  the  region  about  the  upper  Nile,  because 
the  river  failed  to  overflow  his  banks  at  the  proper 
season.  The  people  were  wasted  by  it,  and  they 
died  by  hundreds  and  by  thousands.  My  father 
and  my  brothers  died  ;  and  the  plot  of  land  which 
had  been  theirs  came  to  me. 

"  After  a  time  the  man  who  had  come  out  of  the 
wilderness  was  likewise  stricken,  and  his  wife; 
and  when  it  presently  appeared  that  they  both  must 
die,  he  sent  for  me  and  spake  to  me  after  this  man- 


222  STEPHEN 

ner,  '  My  friend,  who  hath  been  to  me  even  as  a 
brother  in  this  land  of  strangers  wherein  we  have 
sojourned,  I  am  sorely  stricken,  both  I  and  the 
mother  of  the  children,  and  it  must  presently  come 
to  pass  that  we  be  gathered  to  our  fathers ;  but 
before  my  soul  passes  I  would  fain  speak  to  thee 
of  my  little  ones  who  will  be  left  desolate,  if  so  be 
that  the  plague  spares  them.'  'Speak,'  I  made 
answer, '  I  will  do  with  them  as  thou  dost  command.' 
Then  he  told  me  how  that  he  was  a  Greek  born  in 
Antioch,  and  the  son  of  a  rich  man.  After  his  father 
died  a  fierce  quarrel  arose  betwixt  the  two  brothers 
over  the  division  of  the  inheritance ;  and  when 
after  many  days  the  bitterness  still  continued,  it 
came  to  pass  that  he  smote  his  brother  and 
wounded  him  sore ;  then  taking  what  he  would  he 
fled  away  into  the  wilderness.  There  he  took  to 
himself  a  wife  from  the  tribes  that  wandered  in  the 
desert  and  afterward  came  to  dwell  in  Egypt. 

" '  Now  I  pray  and  beseech  thee,'  he  said  to  me, '  by 
all  that  thou  boldest  sacred,  that  thou  wilt  take  my 
two  children  and  the  price  of  the  land — when  thou 
shalt  have  sold  it — and  fetch  them  to  my  brother, 
for  I  have  heard  that  he  yet  liveth,  and  say  to  him 
this  :  Thy  brother  is  dead.  He  sendeth  thee  the 
money  that  he  took  away — and  more ;  and  here 
are  also  his  two  children.  -J_,et  them  find  favor  in 
thy  sight,  I  pray  thee,  for  they  are  desolate.' 


BY  THE  THORNY  WA  YS  OF  HIS  SIN.     223 

"  I  promised  my  neighbor  that  I  would  do  what  he 
desired  of  me ;  and  I  sware  it  by  the  temple  of 
Ptah  Hotep,  and  by  the  sacred  Nile,  and  by  the 
soul  of  my  father.  And  when  he  had  told  me  his 
brother's  name  and  how  to  find  him,  he  turned 
himself  about  on  his  bed  and  spoke  no  more.  In 
that  same  day  both  he  and  his  wife  perished.  Of 
the  two  children  one  was  likewise  stricken,  and  I 
watched  her  many  days  till  she  recovered.  After- 
ward I  perceived  that  she  had  become  blind  by 
reason  of  the  plague. 

"  That  season  I  could  not  sell  the  land,  for  there 
were  none  to  buy;  so  I  planted  the  crops  and 
reaped  them,  and  the  children  ate  and  were  satis- 
fied ;  but  the  money  I  received  for  the  grain  I  kept, 
for  I  said  the  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  wages.  The 
next  season  I  also  planted  and  reaped,  and  the 
next ;  and  at  the  time  of  the  third  harvest  a  man 
came  to  me  and  said,  'Wilt  thou  sell  this  land  for 
thy  neighbor's  children  ? '  and  I  answered  him 
'  Nay,  I  will  not  sell.  My  neighbor  owed  me  money 
and  he  died  without  repaying  me,  therefore  is  the 
land  mine ! '  And  after  a  time  I  came  almost  to 
believe  what  I  had  said.  But  I  waxed  exceeding 
bitter  against  the  two  children,  who  were  as  yet  only 
babes  ;  so  I  sent  them  away  to  a  woman  who  dwelt 
in  the  tombs  above  the  river ;  and  I  paid  her  to  keep 
them.  Afterward  she  died,  and  the  two  continued 


224  STEPHEN 

to  dwell  alone  in  the  tombs.  They  grew  and  waxed 
strong — though  no  one  cared  for  them,  for  the  boy 
was  lusty  and  brave ;  he  had  become  a  water-carrier. 
Still  I  kept  a  watch  upon  them,  for  I  feared  lest 
they  should  in  some  way  find  out  what  I  had  done  ; 
though  I  confessed  it  to  no  one,  not  even  my  wife. 
After  a  time  the  fear  grew  upon  me  so  that  I  could 
neither  eat  nor  sleep,  and  I  resolved  to  rid  myself 
of  the  two.  I  had  not  yet  grown  evil  enough  to 
wish  to  slay  them,  so  I  turned  the  thing  over  in  my 
mind  for  many  days ;  at  the  last  I  was  resolved 
what  to  do.  I  would  sell  them  for  slaves,  then 
would  they  be  taken  away  and  I  should  be  free 
from  my  fears ;  not  only  so,  but  I  should  receive 
gold,  with  which  to  buy  more  land.  But  when  I 
would  have  accomplished  my  desires  upon  them, 
they  fled  away  into  the  desert,  and  assuredly  per- 
ished ;  for  though  I  searched  for  them  long,  I 
could  never  find  what  had  become  of  them." 

"Why  didst  thou  search  for  them,"  said  Seth 
suddenly,  as  the  man  paused  to  drink  from  the  cup 
which  Mary  again  held  to  his  parched  lips. 

"I  searched  for  them,"  replied  the  man,  his  eyes 
resting  upon  his  questioner's  face  with  a  startled 
expression,  "  because — Nay,  I  hardly  know  why.  I 
had  repented  me  of  my  desire  to  make  slaves  of 
them,  but  I  was  not  ready  to  give  up  the  land." 

"What  became  of  Besa?" 


BY  THE  THORNY  IVA  YS  OF  HIS  SIN.     225 

"  I  found  him  dead  in  the  tomb  where  he  thought 
the  twain  were  hidden,"  answered  the  Egyptian  as 
if  in  a  dream.  "But  who  art  thou  that  dost  ques- 
tion me  ? "  and  he  half  raised  himself  in  the  bed, 
his  livid  face  growing  yet  more  ghastly  with  the 
painful  effort. 

"We  are  the  children  of  the  man  thou  didst 
wrong,"  said  Seth  fiercely.  "Tell  me,  what  was 
the  name  of  our  kinsman,  that  we  may  yet  seek 
him  as  our  father  willed  ?  " 

"His  name  was  Erastus;  but,  alas,  he  is  dead 
now  these  many  years.  I  sought  him  that  I 
might  render  an  account  of  what  I  had  done,  for 
I  feared  death  on  account  of  my  sin.  Neither 
dared  I  pray  any  more  to  the  avenging  gods ;  for 
had  I  not  foresworn  myself  in  their  names  ?  So, 
because  there  was  no  longer  any  comfort  for  me  in 
the  lands  which  I  possessed,  nor  in  my  children, 
nor  in  anything  in  the  whole  land  of  Egypt,  I 
became  a  wanderer  in  far  countries.  Here  in 
Jerusalem  not  many  days  since,  I  chanced  to  hear 
a  wondrous  thing,  'that  they  which  had  sinned 
might  find  peace  and  forgiveness  in  one  Jesus 
of  Nazareth,  who  had  lived  upon  earth  that  he 
might  save  them  which  were  lost.'  That  same  day 
I  beheld  him  that  had  spoken  these  words  ;  and 
I  drew  near,  desiring  to  ask  him  still  further  of 
the  matter,  when  on  a  sudden  I  saw  that  he  was 
15 


226  STEPHEN 

in  mortal  peril.  I  scarce  know  what  followed  ;  but 
I  longed  to  save  him,  if  only  that  I  might  hear 
once  more  the  strange  story  of  the  man  Jesus. 
Tell  me " — and  the  man's  glazing  eyes  sought 
Stephen — "thou  hast  heard  all — is  there  forgive- 
ness for  such  as  I  ? " 

"There  is  forgiveness  for  every  one  that  doth 
repent  and  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus,"  said  Ste- 
phen softly.  "Surely  thou  mayest  pass  in  peace, 
my  brother;  for  God  hath  led  thee  even  by  the 
thorny  ways  of  thy  sin  unto  himself." 

The  dying  man's  eyes  again  brightened,  his  lips 
moved ;  then  he  stretched  out  his  hand  toward  the 
youth  and  the  maiden,  who  had  sunken  to  their 
knees  by  his  bedside.  "  Wilt  thou  also  forgive  ?  " 
he  murmured. 

"  Yes — yes.  We  forgive  thee  fully,  as  also  we 
hope  to  be  forgiven,"  cried  Seth,  pressing  his  lips 
to  the  cold  hand  which  had  so  cruelly  wronged  him. 

"Thy  mother — her  name  was  Zarah,"  faltered 
the  Egyptian — "she  was  the  daughter — of—"  his 
voice  failed  him ;  thrice  he  made  an  unavailing 
effort  to  speak,  then  the  eternal  silence  fell  softly 
upon  him. 

"  He  hath  passed  into  the  presence  of  the  Love 
that  hath  led  him  through  all  the  weary  way  of  his 
life,"  said  Mary  solemnly.  "There  will  he  find 
peace." 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

IN   THE    SYNAGOGUE    OF   THE    NAZARENES. 

"  F7OR  what  have  we  been  called  together  at 

1  this  time,  knowest  thou?"  asked  a  man  of 
his  neighbor  in  the  crowd  assembled  before  the 
synagogue  of  the  Nazarenes.  "  Seeing  that  this 
is  not  the  prescribed  day  for  worship." 

"  'Tis  that  we  may  consider  the  matter  of  which 
the  Grecians  have  been  murmuring  of  late,"  re- 
plied the  other.  "Their  widows,  say  they,  are 
neglected  in  the  daily  ministrations." 

"  Not  more  than  the  widows  of  our  own  blood  ; 
the  fault  lieth  with  the  young  men  to  whom  of  late 
the  apostles  have  been  forced  to  give  a  part  of  the 
work.  But  see,  the  doors  are  opened." 

The  twain,  together  with  the  rest  of  the  quiet 

and  orderly  multitude,  passed  into  the  porch,  where 

each  person  paused  for  an  instant  to  dip  his  hands 

into  the  brazen  urn  of  water  which  stood  without 

(227) 


228  STEPHEN 

the  door;  this  constituting  the  ceremonial  washing 
of  hands  required  before  entering  into  the  sacred 
enclosure. 

The  scene  within  did  not  differ  materially  from 
that  which  might  have  been  seen  in  any  other  of 
the  four  hundred  and  eighty  synagogues  of  Jeru- 
salem. Against  the  wall  opposite  the  entrance, 
beneath  a  canopy  of  purple  cloth,  stood  the  wooden 
chest  or  ark,  containing  the  scrolls  of  the  law. 
Above  this  ark  burned  the  perpetual  light,  token 
of  the  visible  glory  of  the  Lord  as  it  was  revealed 
in  that  first  temple  which  their  forefathers  had 
reared  in  the  wilderness.  This  sacred  light  was  a 
three-fold  symbol,  for  it  also  served  to  remind 
the  worshipper  of  the  human  soul,  which  is  the 
breath  of  God;  as  it  is  written,  "The  spirit  of 
man  is  the  candle  of  the  Lord."  And  of  the 
divine  law — "For  thy  commandment  is  a  lamp; 
and  thy  law  is  light." 

Here  also  facing  the  congregation  was  the  desk 
from  which  the  ruler  of  the  synagogue  was  wont 
to  preside  over  the  worship ;  and  at  one  side,  ele- 
vated upon  a  raised  platform,  twelve  wooden  seats 
were  provided  for  the  twelve  apostles — the  visible 
heads  of  the  Church ;  it  being  the  custom  in  all 
synagogues  to  thus  elevate  above  the  common 
rank  those  who  were  considered  the  most  enlight- 
ened. In  these,  as  in  all  other  respects,  did  the 


IN  THE  SYNAGOGUE  OF  THE  NAZARENES.  229 

disciples  walk  orderly  as  after  the  law ;  being  yet 
minded,  despite  the  warning  of  the  Master,  to  put 
the  strong  new  wine  of  the  Kingdom  into  the 
ancient  bottles  of  Judaism. 

On  this  day,  after  that  the  congregation  had 
seated  themselves  in  due  order — the  men  upon  one 
side  of  the  room,  the  women  and  children  upon 
the  other,  separated  by  a  low  wooden  partition — 
the  service  was  begun  by  the  chanting  of  the 
sacrificial  psalms ;  after  which  the  whole  congre- 
gation arose  and  repeated  as  with  one  voice  the 
benediction  called  "The  Creator  of  Light." 

"  Blessed  art  thou,  O  Lord  our  God,  King  of  the 
universe,  who  Greatest  light  and  formest  darkness ; 
who  makest  peace  and  Greatest  all  things.  He  in 
mercy  causes  the  light  to  shine  upon  the  earth  and 
the  inhabitants  thereof,  and  in  goodness  renews 
every  day  the  work  of  creation.  Blessed  art  thou, 
the  Creator  of  Light." 

And  also  this — "the  Great  Love." 

"  With  great  love  hast  thou  loved  us,  O  Lord  our 
God;  thou  hast  shown  us  great  and  abundant 
mercy,  O  our  Father  and  King,  for  the  sake  of  our 
forefathers  who  trusted  in  thee  !  Thou  who  didst 
teach  them  the  love  of  life  ;  have  mercy  upon  us 
and  teach  us  also  to  praise  thee,  O  Lord,  who  in 
love  hast  chosen  thy  people  ! " 

Then  did  Matthias — who  on  this  day  had  been 


23o  STEPHEN 

chosen  to  lead  the  worship,  and  who  like  the  rest 
of  the  congregation  wore  the  fringed  garment  pre- 
scribed by  law  and  the  phylacteries  upon  his  head 
and  upon  his  left  arm — arise,  and  cry  aloud  in  the 
words  of  the  ancient  prayer  which  was  called  the 
Kadish ;  all  the  people  joining  heartily  in  the 
Amens. 

"  Exalted  and  hallowed  be  his  great  name  in  the 
world  which  he  created  according  to  his  will ;  let 
his  kingdom  come  in  your  lifetime,  and  in  the  life- 
time of  the  whole  house  of  Israel  very  speedily ! " 

"Amen!" 

"  Blessed  be  his  great  name,  world  without  end." 

"Amen!" 

"Blessed  and  praised,  celebrated  and  exalted, 
extolled  and  adorned,  magnified  and  worshipped, 
be  thy  holy  name ;  blessed  be  he  far  above  all 
benedictions,  hymns,  thanks,  praises,  and  consola- 
tions which  have  been  uttered  in  this  world." 

"Amen!" 

"  May  the  prayers  and  supplications  of  all  Israel 
be  graciously  received  before  their  Father  in 
heaven." 

"Amen." 

"May  perfect  peace  descend  from  heaven,  and 
life,  upon  us  and  all  Israel." 

"Amen!" 

"  May  he  who  makes  peace  in  his  heaven  confer 
peace  upon  us  and  all  Israel." 


IN  THE  SYNAGOGUE  OF  THE  NAZARENES.  231 

"Amen!" 

Then  followed  the  eighteen  benedictions,  of 
which  the  first  sentence  only  was  repeated  in  a  loud 
voice  by  the  leader,  the  rest  being  recited  by  the 
congregation  in  unison.  Save  this  prayer,  which 
all  repeated  aloud  and  with  a  joyous  tone  of  full 
expectation ;  for  they  knew  him  to  whom  they 
prayed.  "  To  Jerusalem  thy  city  in  mercy  return, 
and  dwell  in  it  according  to  thy  promise  ;  make  it 
speedily  in  our  day  an  everlasting  building,  and 
soon  establish  therein  the  throne  of  David.  Blessed 
art  thou,  O  Lord,  who  buildest  Jerusalem."  And 
so  to  the  end,  closing  with  the  words,  "  Our  Father, 
bless  us  all  unitedly  with  the  light  of  thy  counte- 
nance; for  in  the  light  of  thy  countenance  didst 
thou  give  to  us,  O  Lord  our  God,  the  law  of  life, 
loving  kindness,  justice,  blessing,  compassion,  life, 
and  peace.  May  it  please  thee  to  bless  thy  people 
Israel  at  all  times,  and  in  every  moment  with  peace. 
Blessed  art  thou,  O  Lord,  who  blessest  thy  people 
Israel  with  peace!" 

Then  followed  the  reading  from  the  scriptures. 
Afterward  Peter  arose  in  his  place  and  spoke  to 
the  people ;  he  brought  again  to  their  remem- 
brance the  words  of  their  risen  Lord,  '  how  that 
they  should  continue  to  dwell  together  in  all  peace 
and  love,  forbearing  one  another  and  loving  one 
another  in  expectation  of  that  great  day,  perhaps 


232  STEPHEN 

nigh  at  hand,  when  he  should  return  bringing  his 
reward  with  him  for  them  that  had  been  faithful  in 
all  things.'  He  spoke  also  of  the  matter  which  had 
been  troubling  the  minds  of  many  during  the  days 
that  were  past. 

"God  knoweth,  brethren,"  he  said,  "that  we 
would  not  willingly  neglect  any,  who  by  the  grace 
of  our  Lord  have  joined  themselves  with  us  ;  least 
of  all  them  who  by  reason  of  their  affliction  are 
dependent  upon  our  bounty.  If  any  have  been 
neglected  it  is  because  of  the  weakness  of  the 
flesh.  The  work  hath  waxed  too  great  for  us  ;  for 
besides  this  duty  of  the  daily  distribution  of  bodily 
food  to  them  that  lack,  there  remaineth  also  the 
duty  whereunto  we  were  set  apart  by  the  Master 
himself — of  preaching  the  good  tidings  of  salva- 
tion from  sin  and  from  death  unto  all  men.  '  It  is 
not  reason  that  we  should  set  aside  the  work  of 
God  to  serve  tables ' — and  it  is  manifest  that  we 
cannot  longer  do  both — '  wherefore,  brethren,  look 
ye  out  among  you  seven  men  of  honest  report,  full 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  wisdom,  whom  we  may 
appoint  over  this  business.  But  we  will  give  our- 
selves continually  to  prayer  and  to  the  ministry  of 
the  word.' ' 

And  when  he  had  finished  speaking,  Philip  arose 
in  his  place. 

"  If  I  read  aright  your  faces,  my  brothers,"  he 


IN  THE  SYNAGOGUE  OF  THE  NAZARENES.  233 

said,  looking  around  about  upon  the  multitude, 
"this  good  saying  hath  pleased  you  all.  Let  us 
therefore  choose,  and  that  there  may  no  longer  be 
any  thought  of  jealousy  betwixt  Jew  and  Greek — 
which  thing  also  must  be  displeasing  unto  him, 
who  according  to  his  word,  is  at  this  time  in  our 
midst — let  it  come  to  pass  that  of  the  seven  which 
we  shall  choose,  three  shall  be  Hebrews,  three 
Greeks  and  one  a  proselyte.  Then  shall  there  be 
no  longer  need  nor  excuse  that  any  should  mur- 
mur concerning  this  matter  of  the  dispensations." 

And  these  sayings  being  approved  of  them 
which  were  assembled,  one  Aristarchus  arose  and 
presented  the  name  of  Stephen  for  the  honorable 
office  of  deacon.  "  For  he  is,"  declared  the 
speaker,  "as  is  known  unto  you  all,  a  man  full  of 
faith  and  of  the  Spirit." 

And  all  the  people  cried  with  one  voice  :  "  Wor- 
thy !  He  is  worthy  !  " 

Then  did  they  in  the  same  manner  choose  also 
Philip  and  Prochorus,  Nicanor,  Timon,  and  Par- 
menas  ;  and  also,  according  to  the  word  of  Philip, 
Nicolas  of  Antioch,  who  was  a  convert  to  the  Jew- 
ish faith.  And  these  seven  stood  up  before  the 
apostles  and  before  all  the  congregation  of  the  peo- 
ple ;  and  when  the  apostles  had  prayed  they  laid 
their  hands  upon  them,  in  token  that  thus  were 
they  set  apart  unto  the  sacred  duties  of  their 
calling. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE   WARNING. 

THE  bell  which  hung  beside  the  porter's  lodge 
jangled  sharply,  and  the  porter,  after  first 
peering  out  to  see  who  stood  before  the  door, 
promptly  opened.  "  My  master  is  within,"  he 
said,  making  his  obeisance.  "  I  pray  thee  enter, 
reverend  sir,  thou  wilt  find  my  lord  Annas  upon 
the  terrace.  He  is  expecting  thee." 

Without  a  word  the  newcomer  strode  past  and 
disappeared  within.  The  porter  stared  after  his 
retreating  figure  for  a  moment  in  silence,  then  he 
shook  his  head  slowly.  "  His  look  is  dark  and 
threatening,"  he  muttered,  "  it  bodes  no  good  for 
them  that  believe,  when  at  night  and  at  morning 
and  also  at  midday  those  that  hate  us  gather  them- 
selves in  secret  conclave.  There  be  mischiefs 
brewing,  I  fear  me  ;  a  dark  cloud  which  will  break 
ere  long  and  bring  swift  destruction  upon  the 

(234) 


THE  WARNING.  235 

church — unless  the  Lord  send  help,  and  that  right 
speedily." 

"And  what  hast  thou  found  to  grumble  about 
now,  Simon  ? "  said  a  cheery  voice  at  his  elbow. 

The  old  man  looked  up  sharply.  "Ah,  Iddo, 
didst  thou  hear  me  ?  I  am  indeed  falling  into 
indiscreet  habits  in  my  solitude  when  I  prate  aloud 
of  my  fears.  Had  it  been  Aaron  now,  in  thy  stead 
—but  why  do  I  say  so  ?  I  am  not  ashamed  to  own 
that  I  believe  on  the  Nazarene." 

"  Thou  art  in  good  company,  assuredly,"  said  the 
young  man,  "  though  an  open  avowal  of  thy  faith 
would  doubtless  cost  thee  thy  snug  quarters.  The 
lord  of  this  house  is  not  likely  to  be  of  them  which 
are  daily  being  added  to  the  church.  Hast  thou 
heard  that  of  the  priests  themselves  we  are  contin- 
ually gaining  in  great  numbers  ?  'Tis  wonderful ; 
all  Jerusalem  will  be  with  us  in  another  year;  as 
for  these  worldly  old  hypocrites,  let  them  be ;  they 
will  die  in  their  sins  and  the  world  will  be  better 
without  them.  Even  the  Master  had  no  good 
word  for  such.  Whited  sepulchres  called  he 
them,  and  pronounced  against  them  the  woes 
which  they  assuredly  have  merited.  Nothing  can 
stand  against  us  now,  for  the  Lord  is  with  us  !  " 

But  Simon  shook  his  head.  "  Thou  art  young, 
Iddo,"  he  said  querulously,  "and  hast  much  to 
learn.  There  is  a  storm  at  hand  and  it  will  blow 


236  STEPHEN 

no  good  to  the  church ;  I  have  said  it,  and  thou 
wilt  see.  Do  I  not  stand  at  this  gate  and  see  them 
that  go  in  and  out  ?  I  hear  also  many  things — for 
the  Lord  hath  preserved  my  ears,  and  they  that 
enter  mind  me  no  more  than  yonder  stone  bench- 
listen  !  "  and  the  old  man  held  up  a  shaking  hand. 
"Yesterday  I  admitted  two — four — five  of  them 
that  be  rich  and  mighty — I  will  not  name  them. 
They  remained  within,  three  whole  hours  by  the 
shadow  on  yonder  dial,  then  they  came  out 
together. 

" '  'Tis  a  goodly  thought  of  Annas  to  first  put  out 
of  the  way  the  pestilential  Greek,'  quoth  one,  '  the 
witnesses  will  not  be  hard  to  find.' 

"  '  I  trow  not,'  said  another  with  a  laugh,  '  words 
are  cheap  both  for  the  buying  and  selling ;  as  for 
the  fellow  Stephen,  he  doeth  more  mischief  among 
the  common  people  in  a  week  than  the  slow-witted 
hinds  whom  they  call  apostles  could  accomplish  in 
a  month.'  " 

"  Stephen,"  cried  Iddo,  aghast. 

"Hist,  boy  !  Now  thou  seest  that  though  I  am 
old — and  as  thou  hast  said,  given  to  over-much 
foreboding — there  is  a  deadly  mischief  on  foot." 

"  The  Lord  will  smite  them  if  they  lay  but  a  fin- 
ger on  Stephen,"  exclaimed  the  young  man  indig- 
nantly. "  'Tis  such  as  he  that  the  Lord's  flock 
hath  need  of ;  daily  doth  he  work  great  miracles  of 


THE  WARNING.  237 

healing,  and  his  voice  is  heard  in  every  synagogue 
persuading  men  to  believe  on  Jesus  the  Christ. 
Men  listen  gladly ;  and  to  listen  is  to  be  convinced 
of  the  truth." 

"  Ah,  boy  !  'tis  because  of  these  very  things  that 
they  hate  him ;  were  he  less  than  he  is,  they  would 
not  lay  a  finger  on  him." 

"  But  surely  God  will  protect  him  ! " 

"  God  spared  not  his  own  son,"  said  the  old  man 
solemnly.  "  He  suffered  him  to  be  tortured  and  to 
be  slain  at  the  hands  of  these  very  men ;  and  the 
servant  is  not  greater  than  his  Lord." 

The  other  was  silent  for  a  time ;  all  the  bright- 
ness had  faded  out  from  his  face.  "  Who  is  within 
now  ? "  he  said,  at  length. 

"Saul  of  Tarsus,"  replied  Simon,  briefly. 

"  I  shall  warn  them  of  the  household  of  John  of 
this  thou  hast  told  me  ? " 

"Assuredly,  but  let  it  not  be  bruited  abroad; 
there  is  nothing  to  be  gained  by  it,  and  perhaps 
much  to  be  lost.  If  the  young  man  Stephen — 
but  the  clang  of  the  bell  interrupted  him,  and  he 
hastened  to  open.  "  Enter,  my  lord,  I  pray  thee. 
It  is  so,  my  lord  Annas  is  within,  and  with  him 
the  Rabbi  Saul." 

Iddo  bowed  with  instinctive  respect  as  the  tall, 
gaunt  figure  swept  by  him  and  disappeared  adown 
the  passageway.  "  He  is  no  longer  High  Priest," 


238  STEPHEN 

he  said,  in  a  half  whisper,"  and  it  perchance  hath 
irked  him  to  resign  the  office." 

"  There  are  other  reasons  for  his  haggard  look," 
said  the  old  man  sagely ;  "  but  it  is  not  for  such  as 
I  to  prate  concerning  the  affairs  of  Caiaphas.  The 
Lord  hath  dealt  with  him,  as  he  doth  also  deal  with 
all  men  ;  perchance  that  he  may  draw  them  to  him- 
self at  the  last." 

"  Nay ;  dost  thou  think  then  that  it  is  possible 
for  such  as  the  murderers  of  our  Lord  to  be  for- 
given ?" 

"  Tis  assuredly  not  for  us  to  set  limits  upon  the 
compassion  and  love  of  the  Father  of  our  Lord 
Jesus — who  also  prayed  for  them  in  his  agony.  If 
he  can  save  me,  he  is  able  to  save  any  one ;  for  I 
know  my  own  heart  how  that  it  is  deceitful  above 
all  things  and  desperately  wicked." 

"  That  is  a  true  word,  my  Simon,"  said  the  young 
man,  humbly.  "  No  one  knoweth  it  better  than  I, 
who  was  ever  prone  to  do  evil  as  the  sparks  fly 
upward. — I  must  away;  if  Stephen  could  but  be 
persuaded  to  leave  Jerusalem " 

"  'Twas  what  I  would  have  said,"  broke  in  Simon, 
eagerly.  "  Let  him  go — and  at  once.  There  is  no 
need  that  he  remain  to  fall  into  the  net  which 
these  are  making  ready  for  him.  It  may  be  that 
it  was  by  the  good  providence  of  God  that  I 
chanced  to  hear  what  I  did."  Then  as  he  opened 


THE  WARNING.  239 

the  door  that  the  young  man  might  pass  out,  he 
whispered,  "  Let  them  all  beware  of  the  Pharisee 
from  Tarsus." 

"  'Tis  a  word  of  wisdom,"  said  Iddo  to  himself, 
as  he  strode  rapidly  away.  "  Yet  would  he  dare 
molest  us  who  walk  orderly  after  the  law  ?  If  now 
we  kept  not  the  fasts,  nor  observed  the  solemn 
feasts,  nor  prayed  at  the  times  of  the  morning  and 
evening  sacrifice — but  all  of  these  things  we  ob- 
serve and  do.  Yet  have  I  heard  Stephen  proclaim 
in  the  synagogues  that  there  was  now  no  further 
need  for  the  priestly  slaughter  of  flocks  and  herds, 
because  that  Christ  had  given  himself  a  sacrifice 
for  the  sins — not  only  of  the  Jews — but  for  the  sins 
of  the  whole  world.  Even  the  apostles  say  not 
such  things  ,  it  must  be  that  he  is  over-bold — being 
a  Greek.  Some  one  should  speak  to  him  of  the 
matter." 

Revolving  these  thoughts  in  his  mind,  the  young 
man  came  at  length  into  the  street  where  was  the 
house  of  John  the  apostle.  It  was  narrow,  and 
still,  and  hot  ;  the  feet  of  the  few  passers-by — 
mostly  women  passing  to  and  from  the  public  foun- 
tains with  their  water-jars — making  no  noise  in  the 
yellow  dust.  Iddo  paused  a  moment  with  bent 
head ;  he  smiled,  and  his  eyes  sparkled  with  joy. 
"  She  is  singing,"  he  said  aloud.  And  he  hurried 
forward  faster  than  before — almost  stumbling  in- 


24o  STEPHEN 

deed  in  his  haste  over  some  small  brown  object, 
which  squatted  silently  in  the  hot  sunshine  before 
the  door  which  he  sought. 

"What  is  this  ? "  he  cried,  looking  down,  and  dis- 
covering that  the  obstacle  was  none  other  than  a 
small  brown  child ;  that  there  were,  in  fact,  three 
of  them,  a  boy  and  a  girl— and  betwixt  the  two  a 
baby,  smaller  and  browner  than  either. 

"  We  be  listening,"  said  the  girl  solemnly,  shak- 
ing the  dark  curls  out  of  her  eyes  and  looking  up 
at  her  questioner.  "  The  baby  hath  gone  to  sleep 
because  he  likes  it ;  we  come  every  day.  Wilt  thou 
sit  down  here  ?  the  dust  is  soft,  and  the  music  is  like 
angels  singing." 

Iddo  smiled.  "  Thou  art  right,  little  one,"  he 
said;  "'tis  like  the  voice  of  an  angel." 

"  I  lift  up  mine  eyes  to  the  hills. 
Whence  cometh  my  help  ? 
My  help  is  from  Jehovah, 
Maker  of  heaven  and  earth," 

chanted  the  melodious  voice  within,  then  it  dropped 
to  a  pleading  cadence, 

"  May  He  not  suffer  thy  foot  to  be  moved ! 
May  He  not  slumber  that  keepeth  thee ! 
Behold,  the  Keeper  of  Israel 
Shall  neither  slumber  nor  sleep. 
Jehovah  keep  thee  from  all  evil ! 
He  will  keep  thy  life. 
Jehovah  keep  thy  coming  and  going 
Henceforth  and  for  ever ! " 


THE  WARNING.  241 

The  listener  sighed  involuntarily ;  then  he 
stretched  forth  his  hand  and  laid  it  upon  the  bell — 
paying  no  heed  to  the  solemn  little  voice  at  his 
feet,  "  If  thou  dost  pull  the  rope  the  singing  will 
stop." 

Almost  immediately  the  door  opened,  and  a 
sweet  voice  cried,  "Ah,  'tis  thou,  Iddo  Ben  Obed  ! 
Enter,  I  pray  thee,"  then  observing  the  young 
man's  serious  face,  she  added,  "  What  hath  befal- 
len thee,  friend  ?  thou  art  as  solemn  as  that  great 
image  in  the  desert  which  men  call  the  sphinx." 

"I  have  reason,"  answered  Ben  Obed,  "as  thou 
must  hear  presently." 

"  I  must  first  speak  to  the  little  ones. — Enter, 
friend,  thou  wilt  find  my  brother  within.  Why 
didst  thou  not  knock,  little  one  ? "  she  continued, 
stooping  to  raise  the  sleeping  child,  "  the  sun  is  too 
hot  for  the  babe ;  it  breedeth  mischief  at  this  sea- 
son. Stay — I  will  give  thee  some  pomegranates, 
then  must  thou  go  home  where  it  is  cool.  To- 
night if  thou  wilt  come  and  knock  on  the  door 
thou  shalt  enter,  then  I  will  sing  to  thee,  and  also 
tell  thee  a  story  of  how  the  babe  Jesus  came  through 
the  wilderness  to  the  land  of  Egypt."  And  having 
kissed  the  smooth  brown  cheeks  in  token  of  dis- 
missal, she  watched  the  two  as  they  trudged  away 
down  the  street,  the  sleepy  baby  toddling  between. 

Ben  Obed  was  already  seated  upon  the  stone 
16 


242  STEPHEN 

bench  in  the  cool  shadow  of  the  house,  talking  in 
low  tones  to  a  young  man  of  about  his  own  age, 
who  with  bent  brows  and  serious  air  was  paying 
him  diligent  heed. 

"  I  can  scarce  believe  that  such  talk  is  more  than 
idle  threatening,"  he  was  saying.  "  Since  the  day 
that  Gamaliel  gave  counsel  in  the  Sanhedrim  that 
we  be  left  in  peace,  there  hath  been  no  active  per- 
secution. They  must  see  by  this  time  that  the 
Lord  is  with  us,  therefore  is  the  good  counsel  of 
Gamaliel  proven ;  surely  there  can  be  none 
amongst  them  bold  enough  to  fight  against  God. 
And  this  said  I  to  Simon — or  words  of  like  import. 
I  reminded  him  also  that  we  are  well  looked  upon 
by  all  the  people,  and  how— being  in  all  points  dis- 
posed to  keep  the  law — even  the  priests  are  daily 
joining  themselves  to  our  numbers.  But  he  hath 
a  different  opinion  ;  moreover,  he  bade  me  tell  all 
of  this  household  to  beware  Saul  of  Tarsus." 

"  What  danger  is  threatened  ? "  asked  Anat,  anx- 
iously. 

Iddo  Ben  Obed  raised  his  eyes  to  her  face,  and 
there  was  that  in  their  fiery  gaze  that  brought  the 
warm  color  to  the  maiden's  cheek. 

"  Danger  is  threatened  to  Stephen,"  he  said 
slowly,  "though  how  great  is  that  danger  we  can- 
not tell." 

The  face  of   Anat  grew  deathly  pale.      "Tell 


THE  WARNING.  243 

me—"  she  said,  breathlessly,  "all  that  thou  hast 
heard." 

Iddo  dropped  his  eyes  to  the  ground.  "They 
will  imprison  him  if  he  continues  to  preach  that 
the  Christ  is  mightier  than  the  law,"  he  said 
coldly.  "  What  more  I  know  not.  'Twill  be  best 
for  him  to  leave  Jerusalem." 

Anat  turned  swiftly  and  went  away  into  the 
house. 

That  evening  she  told  the  three  children  the 
story  which  she  had  promised  them  ;  and  sang  to 
them  wild  songs  of  the  desert — vaguely  remem- 
bered from  the  days  when  she  dwelt  in  Egypt ; 
and  afterward  the  Psalm  of  the  watchful  Love, 
which  she  had  sung  in  the  morning.  Then  she 
gave  the  little  ones  into  the  hand  of  their  mother, 
and  went  softly  up  to  the  housetop.  A  lonely 
figure  stood  by  the  parapet,  looking  away  toward 
the  afterglow  which  burned  in  solemn  splendor 
behind  the  mountains.  She  hesitated  for  a  mo- 
ment, then  went  lightly  forward. 

"Hast  thou  heard,"  she  said  softly,  "the  evil 
tidings  which  the  son  of  Obed  brought  to  this 
house  to-day  ?  " 

"  I  have  talked  with  John  concerning  it." 

"And  what  said  he  ?  Surely  he  urged  thee  to 
flee  the  peril  ? "  And  the  girl's  voice  thrilled  with 
passionate  entreaty. 


244  STEPHEN 

The  young  man  turned.  "Anat— beloved,"  he 
said  softly,  "  I  know  all  that  thou  wouldst  say  ; 
and  there  is  much  in  my  heart  that  I  would  fain 
say  to  thee — only  that  the  time  is  short.  Already 
for  me  the  daylight  fades  and  the  night  cometh 
when  I  can  no  more  work  for  the  Master,  while 
for  thee  there  yet  remaineth  many  years  wherein 
to  glorify  his  name ;  and  this  shalt  thou  do,  and 
in  the  doing  find  peace — the  peace  that  passeth 
understanding." 

The  girl  had  sunken  to  her  knees  beside  him, 
her  slender  frame  shaken  with  a  tempest  of  weep- 
ing; but  a  great  calm  fell  upon  her  soul  as  Stephen 
rested  his  hands  upon  her  bowed  head — his  voice 
tremulous  in  that  sweetest  of  all  benedictions : 
"  The  Lord  bless  thee,  and  keep  thee :  the  Lord 
make  his  face  shine  upon  thee,  and  be  gracious 
unto  thee  :  the  Lord  lift  up  his  countenance  upon 
thee,  and  give  thee  peace." 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE   WRATH    OF    MAN. 

"  T^HOU  hast  the  witnesses  ? " 

1  "I  have  the  witnesses,  my  lord  ;  but  there 
was  no  small  difficulty  in  persuading  any  man 
to  serve.  A  score  refused  outright,  reviling  me 
moreover  and  threatening  me  with  death  should  I 
dare  to  molest  the  fellow.  I  placated  them  as  best 
I  was  able,  saying  that  I  but  desired  to  assure 
myself  that  the  reports  which  I  had  heard  against 
so  excellent  a  man  were  false.  Yet  do  I  fear  that 
these  may  fetch  him  word  so  that  he  will  escape 
out  of  our  hands." 

"  He  shall  not  escape.  What  witnesses  hast 
thou  ? " 

"  One  Esek — a  money  lender — who  for  the  sum 
of  ten  shekels  of  silver  hath  consented  to  witness  ; 
and  with4iim  two  of  mine  own  underlings,  who 
will  speak  that  which  is  put  into  their  mouths  with 

(245) 


246  STEPHEN 

all  diligence,  both  on  account  of  the  reward  which 
I  have  promised  if  they  shall  acquit  themselves 
well,  and  because  of  the  scourging  which  awaits 
them  should  they  fail.  One  of  them  is  Iddo  Ben 
Obed — a  young  man  of  some  promise,  who  hath 
by  my  orders  frequented  their  synagogue  much  of 
late,  and  can  therefore  speak  understandingly  of 
the  thing.  To  him  have  I  promised  sure  advance- 
ment if  he  shall  please  the  Council  this  day." 

"Thou  art  a  faithful  servant,  Caleb,  and  shall 
thyself  not  fail  of  thy  reward,"  said  Annas  approv- 
ingly. Now  see  to  it  that  the  Council  Chamber 
be  prepared  with  all  speed ;  we  must  accomplish 
the  thing  quickly,  lest  this  favorable  opportunity 
pass  by  us.  Hast  thou  the  man  under  espionage, 
that  thou  mayest  lay  hands  upon  him  without 
delay?" 

"  He  is  at  this  moment  engaged  in  his  duties  of 
almoner,  my  lord,  distributing  amongst  the  rabble 
of  Jerusalem  that  which  is  little  better  than 
stolen  from  the  Temple  treasury,  in  that  it  is 
vvithholden  from  us  unlawfully.  Afterward  he 
hath  the  intent  to  harangue  the  people  according 
to  his  custom." 

"  He  will  find  a  different  audience  to-day,"  inter- 
rupted Annas  grimly,  "and  one  that  cannot  be 
led  away  by  specious  words.  In  what  synagogue 
wilt  thou  find  him  ? " 


THE  WRA  TH  OF  MAN.  247 

"To-day  they  purpose  to  assemble  in  Solomon's 
Porch,  that  they  may  entrap  the  multitude.  The 
fellow  Stephen  will  interpret  the  prophets,  wick- 
edly alleging — as  do  they  all — that  holy  men,  such 
as  Moses,  Isaiah,  and  all  the  prophets,  foretold  as 
the  Messiah  the  fruit  of  the  accursed  tree." 

"  Little  need  to  suborn  witnesses  when  they 
openly  profane  the  holy  places  of  the  earth  with 
such  blasphemies.  But  go  now ;  keep  the  fellow 
under  thine  own  eye  till  I  shall  send  thee  word, 
then  fetch  him  with  all  speed,  together  with  the 
witnesses.  Stay  a  moment — see  that  there  is  no 
tumult  made  when  he  is  arrested." 

Caleb  smiled  as  he  again  bowed  himself  before 
his  superior.  "  I  have  devised  a  cunning  plan 
wherewith  to  entrap  him  without  tumult,"  he  re- 
plied. 

"All  is  going  well,"  said  Annas  to  himself  when 
he  was  left  alone.  "Our  patient  and  apparently 
fruitless  toil  is  at  last  about  to  be  rewarded.  Be- 
sides Caleb,  who  shall  in  no  wise  lose  his  reward, 
we  must  not  forget  that  we  owe  much  to  the  dis- 
cretion and  zeal  of  Malluch  and  Zared,  who  have 
diligently  spoken  against  this  man  and  his  words 
to  the  people.  The  sum  agreed  upon  was  forty 
pieces  of  silver  for  each  of  them  —  a  goodly 
sum  for  such  as  they,  yet  if  to-day's  descending 
sun  finds  the  man  dead  I  will  command  that  it 


248  STEPHEN 

be  made  fifty.  But  here  is  our  Pharisee  from 
Tarsus ;  I  must  deal  wisely  with  him.  I  would 
that  he  were  a  Sadducee,  the  doctrine  of  the  res- 
urrection is  a  mischievous  one,  and  one  moreover 
which  these  blasphemous  Nazarenes  preach  with- 
out ceasing.  Greetings  to  thee,  my  son.  This 
will  prove  a  glorious  day  with  us,  if  it  shall  witness 
a  signal  victory  over  unrighteousness." 

The  newcomer  received  this  friendly  greeting 
with  chilling  hauteur.  "  God  knoweth  that  I  long 
to  see  the  workers  of  iniquity  put  to  confusion," 
he  said,  throwing  himself  into  a  chair  and  fixing 
his  stern  eyes  upon  his  companion.  "  But  lying 
and  deceit  are  hateful  to  my  soul.  Neither  shall 
anything  prosper  that  is  accomplished  thereby." 

The  face  of  Annas  hardened.  "  Thou  speakest 
in  riddles,  friend,"  he  said  coldly.  "Whom  dost 
thou  accuse  of  lying  and  deceit  ?" 

"  It  hath  come  to  my  ears  that  certain  ones  have 
been  hired  to  speak  evil  of  the  man  Stephen ;  that 
these  have  stirred  up  the  people  against  him  so 
that  they  are  ready  to  lay  hands  upon  him.  It  is 
true  that  the  man  hath  spoken  freely  and  openly 
in  every  synagogue,  alleging  that  the  carpenter  of 
Galilee  was  the  Christ  foretold  by  the  Prophets, 
and  that  he  hath  risen  from  the  dead  and  is  be- 
come the  first-fruits  of  them  that  sleep." 

"  And  hath  he  convinced  the  learned  Saul  of  the 


THE  WRA  TH  OF  MAN.  249 

truth  of  these  things?"  said  Annas  with  a  sar- 
castic smile.  "Nay,  that  were  a  victory  indeed." 

Saul  laughed  aloud,  a  harsh,  unmirthful  sound. 
"  I  am  of  all  men  least  likely  to  become  a  victim 
of  this  monstrous  delusion.  The  man  should  not 
be  suffered  to  speak  further,  for  he  hath  the  cun- 
ning tongue  of  a  great  orator,  and  convinces  the 
people  mightily.  Neither  I,  nor  any  who  have 
disputed  with  him  have  been  able  to  undo  the  mis- 
chief that  he  hath  wrought.  But  I  like  not  that 
we  suborn  liars  to  serve  our  cause." 

"  We  forbade  these  men  to  speak  the  name  of 
the  Nazarene  some  three  years  ago,  letting  them 
go  with  but  a  scourging,  according  to  the  counsel 
of  the  most  sapient  Gamaliel,  whose  pupil  thou 
art.  But  how  did  they  obey  the  commands  of  the 
most  holy  Council,  and  how  hath  the  advice  of 
Gamaliel  profited  our  cause  ?  Since  that  day  they 
have  not  ceased  to  bruit  the  hateful  name  of  Jesus 
of  Nazareth  about  Jerusalem,  till  the  very  beggars 
of  our  streets  pray  to  him  openly.  If  we  have 
employed  discreet  men  to  assist  us  in  rooting  out 
this  menacing  evil,  what  is  it  but  the  part  of 
wisdom  ?  Do  not  the  Nazarenes  also  feed  and 
clothe  the  men  who  are  daily  spreading  this  poison 
to  the  confusion  of  Israel  ?  This  man  Stephen, 
being  a  Greek,  not  only  doth  not  himself  observe 
the  law,  but  he  is  forever  bringing  to  the  mind  of 


250  STEPHEN 

the  people  the  words  and  practices  of  the  Naza- 
rene,  who  would  be  well  forgotten  by  this 
were  it  not  for  such  pestilent  fellows.  He  dili- 
gently reminds  the  multitude  how  that  the  man 
worked  miracles  on  the  Sabbath  day,  declaring 
that  God  would  have  mercy  and  not  sacrifice,  and 
how  he  openly  prophesied  the  destruction  of  the 
Holy  Temple.  The  carpenter  from  Galilee,  he 
blasphemously  alleges,  was  God  made  manifest  in 
the  flesh ;  therefore  his  acts  and  words  are  greater 
than  the  law  of  Moses,  and  rather  to  be  observed 
than  any  priestly  commands.  For  such  as  this 
fellow  there  is  but  one  remedy,  as  it  is  written 
also,  'The  mouth  of  them  that  speak  lies  shall  be 
stopped.' " 

Saul  was  silent  for  a  moment.  Before  his  men- 
tal vision  there  arose  the  face  of  Stephen,  as  he 
had  seen  him  many  times  during  the  furious  con- 
troversies which  had  of  late  taken  place  in  the 
synagogues,  glowing  with  high  courage,  hope  and 
confidence,  and  illumined  withal  by  a  mysterious 
light  at  which  he  had  more  than  once  inwardly 
marveled.  Then  his  face  hardened.  "  It  is  just 
that  this  apostate  be  put  to  death,"  he  said.  "  This 
is  no  time  for  half-way  measures ;  but  let  it  be 
done  according  to  the  law  and  without  fear  of  the 
people." 

"  Thou  hast  said  !"  cried  Annas.     "  This  will  we 


THE  WRATH  OF  MAN.  251 

do,  for  the  time  is  ripe.  Listen,  this  very  day  he 
shall  be  brought  before  the  Council ;  witnesses  are 
at  hand  that  every  word  may  be  established  accord- 
ing to  the  law.  As  it  is  written,  '  in  the  mouth 
of  two  or  three  witnesses  every  word  shall  be 
established.' " 

"  Who  are  the  witnesses  ?" 

"  Reputable  men — most  reputable  men.  One 
Esek,  a  Jew,  who  dwells  near  to  their  synagogue, 
and- 

"Do  these  testify  freely? — without  money,  I 
mean?"  again  interrupted  Saul  with  an  irritable 
gesture. 

"  It  is  the  custom,  my  son,  to  compensate  wit- 
nesses for  the  loss  of  time  entailed  upon  them 
in  the  pursuance  of  their  duty,"  began  Annas 
smoothly. 

But  Saul  broke  in  rudely.  "  I  will  have  none  of 
it,"  he  cried,  springing  to  his  feet  and  striding 
stormily  up  and  down  the  room.  "  Hired  agitators 
amongst  the  people ;  hired  witnesses  against  a  man 
who,  whatever  his  accursed  beliefs,  is  at  least 
incapable  of  such  meanness." 

Annas  also  arose,  and  with  an  air  of  awful  dig- 
nity fixed  his  piercing  eyes  upon  the  flushed  face 
of  the  young  man.  "Thou  dost  assuredly  forget," 
he  said  slowly,  "  the  respect  due  him  in  whose 
presence  thou  art  standing.  As  the  head  of  the 


252  STEPHEN 

high-priestly  family,  which  for  many  generations 
has  acceptably  served  Jehovah  in  that  most  holy 
office,  I  am  not  lightly  to  be  accused  to  my  face  of 
that  which  my  soul  abhorreth,  as  also  it  is  written  : 
"  I  hate  and  abhor  lying,  but  thy  law  do  I  love.' 
Twice  hast  thou  cast  this  thing  in  my  teeth,  and  in 
so  doing  thou  hast  proven  thyself  unworthy  of  the 
high  confidence  which  I  have  given  thee ;  unworthy 
of  the  love  which  I  have  freely  bestowed  upon 
thee  ;  unworthy " 

"  Stay,  I  beseech  thee !  "  cried  Saul,  raising  his 
hand.  He  had  grown  deathly  pale,  and  trembled 
visibly.  "  It  is  true,  I  have  forgotten  myself.  I 
am  well  nigh  mad  because  of  the  failure  of  all  that 
I  had  confidently  hoped  for.  Day  after  day  have  I 
gone  forth  to  do  battle  for  Israel,  and  day  after 
day  have  I  been  worsted.  I  am  of  all  men  most 
unworthy,  in  that  I  have  failed — miserably  failed. 
I  will  return  to  Tarsus,  and  thou  shalt  see  my  face 
no  more." 

"Nay,  my  son,"  said  Annas  softly,  "because 
thou  hast  acknowledged  thy  fault,  it  is  forgiven. 
And  dost  think  that  I  have  not  watched  thee  in 
this  thy  struggle  against  iniquity ;  that  my  heart 
has  not  bled  for  thee  ?  Possess  now  thy  soul  in 
patience,  trust  in  the  Lord— and  in  me — and  it 
shall  assuredly  come  to  pass.  Thou  shalt  see  the 
confusion  of  thine  enemies  ;  for  the  honor  of  Israel 


THE  WRA  TH  OF  MAN.  253 

shall  this  day  be  vindicated  right  gloriously.  As 
for  the  thing  that  thou  hast  spoken  of,  it  shall  be 
even  as  thou  hast  said.  There  is  no  lack  of  them 
that  can  witness  against  this  man.  Ay  !  and  that 
will  witness  right  gladly  for  the  glory  of  Jehovah. 
Surely  there  is  no  need  for  us  to  say,  '  Who  will 
come  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  ? — to  the  help  of 
the  Lord  against  the  mighty  ? '  Israel  shall  arise 
in  her  might,  and  shall  gird  herself  against  them 
that  would  do  her  violence,  that  would  plague  her 
with  idolatrous  and  blasphemous  practices.  Too 
long  have  we  held  our  peace  in  the  presence  of 
this  devouring  evil ;  the  very  stones  of  the  Temple 
will  cry  out  if  we  longer  submit  to  them  that  pro- 
fane its  sanctity." 

"  As  in  the  case  of  the  Nazarene,  it  will  be  pos- 
sible to  do  nothing  of  ourselves,"  said  Saul  bitterly. 
"And  the  Romans — they  care  for  none  of  these 
things." 

"Ah — there  we  have  gained  a  signal  victory 
over  our  enemies,"  said  Annas  triumphantly. 
"Herod  is  with  us  this  time,  though  not  openly.  I 
have  taken  good  care  that  reports  should  reach  his 
ear  from  time  to  time  how  that  these  fellows  con- 
tinually proclaim  the  return  of  the  crucified  one 
to  reign  over  Israel.  He  loves  his  paltry  throne, 
and  actually  fears  that  the  thing  may  come  to 
pass.  Not  many  days  since  he  sent  for  me. 


254  STEPHEN 

He  was  lying  at  full  length  among  his  purple 
cushions. 

" '  Hast  thou  heard  what  these  Galileans  are 
saying,'  he  said,  scarcely  tarrying  for  the  accus- 
tomed greetings. 

'"They  are  saying  many  things  that  are  unlaw- 
ful,' I  answered  him,  'but  nothing  more  dangerous 
to  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  nation  than 
that  the  dead  malefactor — whom  they  claim  is 
alive — will  shortly  return  to  rule  over  Israel.' 

" '  Dost  thou  believe  that  the  man  is  alive  ? '  he 
asked,  fixing  his  eyes  upon  me. 

" '  If  he  be  not  alive,'  I  said, '  the  sedition  is  none 
the  less  to  be  feared,  for  these  fellows  are  capable 
of  forcing  the  people  to  believe  what  they  will. 
Wilt  thou  not  then  take  measures  against  them 
who  alone  art  in  power  ? ' 

"'I  cannot,'  he  whined  fretfully,  'I  fear  the 
people — I  fear  the  man — the — the  dead  man.  I  am 
not  well.  Hast  thou  not  a  law  which  will  stop 
their  prating  ? ' 

"  '  We  have  a  law — yes,'  I  made  him  answer ; 
'  but  we  cannot  enforce  it,  since ' 

"  'The  law — the  law,'  he  interrupted. 

"'The  law  is  this — He  that  blasphemeth  the 
name  of  the  Lord  shall  surely  be  put  to  death, 
and  all  the  congregation  shall  certainly  stone  him. 
The  stranger,  as  well  as  he  that  is  born  in  the 


THE  WRA  TH  OF  MAN.  255 

land,  when  he  blasphemeth  the  name  of  the  Lord 
shall  be  put  to  death.' 

"  '  Carry  out  your  law  upon  these  men,'  he  cried, 
throwing  himself  back  upon  the  cushions. 

'"Not  so,'  I  answered,  'lest  we  fall  upon  evil 
times  afterward.  We  be  law-abiding  in  all  points 
— civil  as  well  as  religious— and  it  is  not  lawful  for 
us  to  put  any  man  to  death.' 

'"There  shall  no  harm  come  to  thee,'  he 
cried,  '  I  swear  it.  There  is  now  no  governor  in 
Jerusalem.  I  am  a  Roman.  I  am  the  law.' 

" '  Give  me  a  warrant  sealed  with  thy  seal,'  I 
said.  And  he  gave  it  straightway." 

"  Hast  thou  this  writing  with  thee  ?  "  said  Saul. 

Annas  drew  a  parchment  from  his  bosom  and 
gave  it  into  the  outstretched  hand  of  the  -young 
man  without  a  word. 

"Inasmuch,"  he  read  aloud,  "as  the  peace  of 
Jerusalem  and  all  Judaea  is  endangered  by  mali- 
cious persons,  who  proclaim  that  a  crucified  male- 
factor, to  wit,  one  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  is  alive,  and 
will  shortly  overturn  the  present  government  that 
he  may  himself  rule ;  and  as  these  persons  more- 
over blasphemously  affirm  that  said  malefactor  is 
the  Jehovah-sent  Messiah,  I,  Herod,  do  empower 
the  Senate  of  the  people  of  Israel,  called  also  the 
Sanhedrim,  to  deal  with  such  seditious  persons 
according  to  their  judgment  and  after  their  laws, 


256  STEPHEN 

which  do  fully  provide  for  the  scourging,  imprison- 
ment, and  putting  to  death  of  all  persons  whether 
Hebrew  or  alien,  who  believe,  affirm,  and  declare 
mischievous  doctrines  of  the  like.  Signed  and 
sealed,  to  the  glory  of  Jehovah  and  the  peace 
of  the  nation,  this  fifth  day  of  Nisan,  in  the 
Asmonean  Palace." 

"  God  hath  given  them  into  our  hand,  my  son," 
said  Annas  solemnly.  "  We  must  deal  with  them 
even  as  Elijah  dealt  with  the  prophets  of  Baal, 
and  'let  not  one  of  them  escape.'  " 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

UNTIL    THE    DAY    BREAK. 

IN  the  morning  of  that  same  day,  before  it  was 
yet  dawn,  Stephen  arose  and  went  away  out  of 
the  city. 

After  the  supreme  renunciation  of  the  night 
before,  he  had  experienced  a  strange,  a  wonderful 
peace  :  the  world  had  vanished  from  out  his  sight ; 
he  felt  that  he  had  already  entered  upon  the  life 
beyond.  And  while  he  yet  marvelled  and  rejoiced 
because  of  this,  he  slept.  How  many  hours  had 
elapsed  before  he  awoke  he  did  not  know ;  it  was 
dark  in  the  house-place,  and  the  darkness  lay 
heavily  upon  him  like  a  pall.  With  the  darkness 
there  had  also  fallen  the  icy  shadow  of  his  approach- 
ing doom ;  before  the  shrouded  face  of  this  awful 
impalpable  presence  peace  and  joy  fled  away  in 
affright.  He  strove  to  pray,  but  his  tongue  clave 
to  the  roof  of  his  mouth.  Near  by  he  could  hear 

17  (257) 


258  STEPHEN 

the  regular,  peace! ul  breathing  of  John  and  Andrew ; 
somehow  the  sound  added  an  intolerable  poignancy 
to  his  anguish.  For  the  first  time  he  realized  to 
the  full  the  utter  loneliness  of  the  soul.  "They 
love  me,"  he  said  within  himself  bitterly, — "  but 
they  sleep." 

After  a  time  he  arose,  and  wrapping  his  cloak 
about  him,  stole  out  into  the  courtyard.  The 
fresh  wind  as  it  smote  him  brought  with  it  a 
sense  of  relief.  The  stars  glittered  keenly  over- 
head against  the  dark  blue  of  the  heavens ;  the 
fragrance  of  a  tall  white  lily  abloom  beside  the 
little  cistern  hung  heavy  upon  the  air.  An  ir- 
resistible impulse  to  go  swiftly — somewhere — 
anywhere — came  upon  him.  Undoing  the  fasten- 
ing of  the  outer  door,  he  slipped  out,  feeling  a 
quick  thrill  of  satisfaction  in  the  fact  that  he  had 
accomplished  this  noiselessly.  The  cocks  were 
crowing  as  he  started  swiftly  down  the  street,  first 
one,  then  another,  then  half  a  dozen  at  once,  dying 
away  into  silence  only  to  break  forth  again  as  some 
faint  challenge  from  a  distance  rang  out  triumph- 
antly. 

As  yet  there  was  little  token  of  day,  but  the 
keeper  was  drowsily  undoing  the  fastenings  of  the 
city  gate,  in  due  anticipation  of  the  market-men, 
who  would  soon  be  coming  from  every  quarter. 
Stephen  hesitated  for  an  instant,  then  slipped 


UNTIL  THE  DA  Y  BREAK.  259 

through  the  opening  without  being  observed. 
Before  him  lay  the  Roman  road,  hard  and  white, 
stretching  dimly  away  into  the  darkness.  All  the 
young  life  in  him  leapt  up  at  the  sight. 

"  I  have  but  to  follow  this  road,"  he  thought, 
"  it  will  bring  me  to  safety.  And  why,  after  all, 
should  I  remain  ?  Wicked  men  have  laid  a  snare 
for  me,  and  it  hath  been  made  known  to  me  in 
the  mercy  of  God.  It  must  needs  be  that  I  escape ; 
I  am  young,  I  can  and  will  do  good  service  to  them 
that  believe  for  many  years.  What  shall  it  profit 
any  man  if  I  perish  now  ? " 

He  was  walking  the  more  swiftly  as  he  com- 
muned thus  with  himself,  and  hearing,  or  fancying 
that  he  heard,  a  sound  as  of  pursuit  behind  him, 
he  thrust  his  fingers  into  his  ears  and  ran,  the  road 
still  dimly  unrolling  itself  out  of  the  darkness 
before  him  like  a  dusky  ribbon  from  the  loom  of 
night.  After  he  had  gone  thus  for  a  long  distant^ 
— his  breath  being  well-nigh  spent  and  his  laboring 
heart  knocking  loudly  for  relief — he  paused,  and 
withdrawing  his  fingers  from  his  ears,  listened. 
There  was  no  sound  save  the  soughing  of  the  wind 
in  the  gnarled  branches  of  the  trees  and  the  shrill- 
ing of  insects  in  the  lush  grass.  He  sank  down 
for  a  moment  to  rest. 

"  If  I  go  away  now — as  indeed  those  older  and 
wiser  than  myself  have  advised — I  can  remain  till 


260  STEPHEN 

the  present  danger  be  passed,  afterward  I  can  re- 
turn, and — there  is  Anat.  The  world  is  wide,  there 
is  no  need  that  we  remain  at  Jerusalem.  We  two 
will  go  away  into  far  countries  and  among  strange 
peoples,  that  we  may  spread  the  Gospel  among  all 
nations,  even  as  the  Master  commanded.  It  is 
right  that  this  should  be,  else  why  do  these 
thoughts  come  to  me.  As  for  means  for  my 
journey,  I  have  here  in  my  pouch  the  money  with 
which  I  was  to  buy  provisions  to-day,  this  would 
the  apostles  gladly  give  me  for  my  present  needs 
—ay,  and  more.  Yes,  I  will  go — I  must  go."  And 
he  arose  and  girding  himself  resolutely,  started 
once  more  upon  his  journey. 

"  I  will  go,"  he  repeated  to  himself  more  than 
once.  "  I  must  go."  But  after  a  time  he  ceased 
to  walk  swiftly ;  at  length  he  stopped  altogether 
and  turned  his  face  toward  the  East.  Faint  rosy 
flushes — momently  brightening — merged  finally 
into  long  tremulous  beams  of  pure  unearthly  light, 
which  shot  up  as  if  in  an  ecstasy  of  triumph  over 
the  conquered  gloom.  Stephen's  heart  expanded 
at  the  sight.  He  sank  upon  his  knees. 

"  '  Blessed  art  thou,  O  Lord  our  God,  King  of 
the  universe,'  "  he  murmured  aloud.  " '  Who  cre- 
atest  light  and  formest  darkness,  who  makest  peace 
and  Greatest  all  things !  He  in  mercy  causes  the 
light  to  shine  upon  the  earth  and  the  inhabitants 


UNTIL  THE  DA  Y  BREAK.  261 

thereof,  and  in  goodness  renews  every  day  the 
work  of  creation.  Blessed  art  thou,  the  Creator 
of  Light!'" 

Something  in  the  familiar  and  well-loved  words 
spoken  in  that  dewy  solitude  seemed  to  sweep 
away  the  paralyzing  and  unworthy  fear  from  out 
his  soul.  He  looked  at  the  Roman  road,  showing 
hard,  white  and  dusty  in  the  morning  light,  it  no 
longer  appeared  alluring.  He  thought  again  of  his 
resolve  to  use  the  money  from  the  almoner's  fund 
to  make  good  his  escape,  and  the  honest  crimson 
rose  to  his  cheek. 

"  I  am  no  better  than  a  thief,"  he  cried  aloud. 
"  I  will  go  back ;  and  if  it  needs  be  that  I  suffer, 
God  help  me,  for  the  flesh  is  weak." 

As  he  arose  to  his  feet  he  saw  with  a  shock  of 
surprise  that  he  had  paused  near  to  the  little  rocky 
knoll,  called,  from  its  strange  resemblance  to  a 
human  skull,  Golgotha.  Upon  the  bald  summit 
of  this  place  of  death  stood  a  cross,  and  upon  the 
cross  hung  the  figure  of  a  man — naked  save  for 
his  scanty  rags  which  fluttered  fitfully  in  the  light 
breeze,  the  clear  light  of  the  dawn  revealing  with 
ghastly  insistency  his  drawn  features,  and  the 
purple  wounds  in  his  hands  and  feet.  At  the  foot 
of  the  cross  lay  two  Roman  soldiers,  evidently 
detailed  to  watch  the  dying  man ;  they  were  snor- 
ing loudly,  a  half-emptied  wine-skin  upon  the  grass 


262  STEPHEN 

between  them  revealing  the  manner  in  which  they 
had  beguiled  the  night  watches. 

As  Stephen  gazed  at  this  horrible  sight,  the 
figure  on  the  cross  writhed  feebly,  the  blue  lips 
parted.  "  God !  daylight  again,  and  I  live — live — " 
were  the  words  which  gushed  out  from  them  in  a 
quavering  shriek. 

Sick  with  a  fear  that  he  could  not  control, 
Stephen  approached  the  cross,  treading  carefully 
lest  he  should  awaken  the  brutal  sleepers  at  its 
foot. 

"Water!"  cried  the  sufferer.  "Yes,  I  see  it — 
a  brown  stream  running  over  its  pebbles — a  lake 
deep  and  cool.  I  will  hide  in  it,  my  hands  are 
burning — no,  no,  they  are  dead." 

"  Here  is  water,"  said  Stephen  in  a  trembling 
voice,  holding  his  flask  to  the  lips  of  the  dying 
wretch— for  he  hung  low,  his  feet  almost  touching 
the  ground. 

But  the  man  could  not  drink ;  he  opened  his 
glazing  eyes,  apparently  not  seeing  the  face  of 
angelic  pity  at  his  side,  for  he  fell  to  babbling  dis- 
connectedly of  many  things,  mingling  frightful 
curses  on  his  tormentors  with  prayers  to  the  pagan 
gods. 

Stephen  sent  up  a  swift  prayer  for  help;  he 
could  pray  now.  "  Listen  ! "  he  cried,  not  heeding 
the  fact  that  a  group  of  wayfarers  had  stopped  and 


UNTIL  THE  DA  Y  BREAK.  263 

were  regarding  him  with  open-mouthed  amaze- 
ment. "  Listen — thou  mayest  yet  be  saved.  Jesus 
of  Nazareth  can  save  thee !  Master,  hear — I  be- 
seech thee — and  save  !  " 

The  dim  eyes  were  turned  upon  him  now ;  there 
was  a  gleam  of  understanding  in  them.  "  Art 
thou — Jesus — of  Nazareth  ? " 

"  Nay,  I  am  but  his  servant.  Call  upon  him 
quickly  to  forgive — to  save." 

"Jesus  —  forgive — save!"  gasped  the  failing 
voice,  then  all  was  still. 

Stephen  looked  once  into  the  quiet  face  of  the 
man  on  the  cross,  then  down  at  the  soldiers,  who 
were  beginning  to  stir  a  little.  One  of  them  sat 
up  and  threw  his  arms  above  his  head  and  yawned. 

"By  Bacchus!"  he  exclaimed.  "I  must  have 
slept, — a  murrain  on  these  night  watches,  the 
fellow  could  not  have  gotten  away."  Then  his 
eye  fell  upon  Stephen.  "  Who  art  thou  ? "  he 
cried,  springing  to  his  feet;  "and  what  art  thou 
doing  here  ?  If  now  thou  hast  meddled  with  the 
malefactor — ha !  the  fellow  is  gone.  Didst  thou 
give  him  aught  to  help  him  to  his  death  ?  " 

"  No,  friend,"  answered  Stephen  quietly.  "  I 
but  spoke  to  him  of  Jesus,  the  Redeemer ;  and  if 
God  will,  that  word  hath  helped  him  to  eternal 
life." 

The  man  to  whom  he  had  spoken  made  a  motion 


264  STEPHEN 

as  if  to  seize  him,  but  the  other,  who  had  also 
awakened,  held  him  back. 

"  Let  be,"  he  said  in  a  low  voice ;  "he  hath  done 
no  harm  ;  'tis  Stephen,  the  Nazarene." 

The  soldier  dropped  his  arm.  "  Go,"  he  com- 
manded briefly  ;  "  we  had  orders  to  allow  no  one 
near  the  cross  of  this  man." 

Stephen  bowed  his  head  and  passed  on.  He 
walked  swiftly — as  he  had  done  before  the  dawn — 
but  this  time  his  face  was  steadfastly  set  towards 
Jerusalem,  and  upon  it  shone  the  light  of  a  peace 
which  the  world  had  not  given,  and  which  from 
henceforth  it  was  powerless  to  take  away.  Verily, 
when  the  day  breaks,  the  shadows  flee  away. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

IN  THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW. 

"rxO  thou,  Ben  Obed,  watch  the  man  till  such 
1— *  time  as  I  shall  send  thee  word.  Then — thou 
art  known  unto  him  ?  A  fortunate  chance — say 
this  to  him,  '  There  is  one  ailing  at  my  house,  who 
desireth  thy  immediate  presence.'  He  will  at  once 
follow  thee,  and  thou  shalt  fetch  him  without  delay 
into  the  Council  Chamber." 

"  Suppose  that  he  will  not  follow  me  ? "  said  the 
young  man,  fixing  his  black  eyes  upon  the  floor  with 
a  somewhat  sullen  expression. 

Caleb  looked  at  him  keenly  for  a  moment  before 
replying.  "  If  thou  art  zealous  to  secure  for  thy- 
self the  position  whereof  I  have  spoken,  and  the 
sum  of  silver  which  shall  also  be  the  reward  of  thy 
diligence,  thou  wilt  not  lack  means  to  bring  the 
man  away  from  the  multitude  without  exciting  any 
tumult.  It  is  not  expedient  for  me  to  appear  in 
(265) 


266  STEPHEN 

this  matter,  else  would  I  undertake  it.  But  thou 
art  not  the  only  one,  there  is  Malluch,  or ' 

"  I  will  fetch  him,"  said  Ben  Obed  looking  up 
hastily  ;  "have  I  not  said  that  I  would  do  it?" 

"  The  reward  is  sure,"  pursued  Caleb.  "And  thou 
wilt  have  moreover  the  approval  of  thine  own  con- 
science in  the  matter,  in  that  thou  art,  in  serving 
thine  own  interests,  also  serving  God — and  doubt 
not  that  thine  obedience  will  be  as  a  sweet  savor 
before  him." 

"  What  will  they  do  with  the— with  Stephen  ? " 
asked  the  young  man  shifting  uneasily  about  in  his 
place.  "  He  is — that  is — I  think —  "  and  he  stopped 
short,  his  eyes  fixed  eagerly  on  the  face  of  his 
superior. 

Caleb  straightened  himself,  and  his  face  hard- 
ened. "  I  have  not  asked  the  question  of  them 
above  me  in  authority.  To  receive  an  order  and  to 
obey  it  without  question,  comment,  or  opinion  hath 
ever  been  my  way.  It  should  also  be  thy  way  if 
thou  hast  a  desire  to  advance  thyself  in  life.  As 
also  it  is  written,  '  Seest  thou  a  man  diligent  in  his 
business,  he  shall  stand  before  kings.'  This  have 
I  done ;  not  once,  but  many  times,"  and  the 
speaker  drew  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  and 
passed  his  beard  through  his  hand  with  the  same 
impressive  gesture  that  he  had  observed  many 
times — and  admired — in  the  lordly  Annas.  "  Go 


IN  THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW.       267 

now,  young  man,"  he  continued,  "and  acquit  thy- 
self well,  as  becometh  the  son  of  a  wise  and  dili. 
gent  man.  So  shall  thy  mother  rejoice  in  the  day 
of  thy  birth." 

"They  will  imprison  him,"  muttered  Iddo  Ben 
Obed  to  himself  as -he  turned  away.  "He  hath 
assuredly  spoken  contrary  to  the  law;  and  why 
should  I  not  witness  to  the  truth  ?  A  man  must 
faithfully  perform  the  duties  whereunto  he  is 
called  without  partiality.  This  Stephen  is  a  Greek 
— at  least  by  his  father — and  is  it  lawful  to  set  the 
son  of  a  malefactor  in  a  place  of  authority  ?  I  say 
not.  If  he  were  once  out  of  the  way  I  could  win 
the  maid  Anat.  I  know  that  I  could.  I  can  give 
her  a  home  and  abundance  of  all  that  she  hath 
need  of.  I  will  do  this  thing.  He  hath  brought  it 
upon  himself,  for  I  have  thrice  warned  him  to  leave 
Jerusalem.  He  will  not  leave,  and  why? — he 
thinks  forsooth  that  I  am  blind." 

And  having  come  to  the  place  where  the  daily 
distributions  were  wont  to  be  made,  he  mingled 
with  the  multitude  and  waited  for  the  appearance 
of  the  seven,  as  the  deacons  were  now  commonly 
called.  They  appeared  at  last,  laden  with  the  day's 
alms,  and  began  to  make  distribution  among  the 
waiting  poor.  Iddo  noticed  that  Stephen's  face 
was  very  pale,  and  that  blue  shadows  lay  beneath 
his  dark  eyes.  He  smiled  evilly.  "  He  is  afraid/' 


268  STEPHEN 

he  sneered.  And  being  now  determined  upon  the 
course  which  he  meant  to  follow,  he  allowed  his 
jealous  hatred  of  the  man  to  spring  up  unchecked, 
and  because  hatred  is  a  plant  of  quick  and  easy 
growth,  especially  when  nourished  by  envy,  it  came 
to  pass  that  within  the  half  hour  Ben  Obed  had 
seen  every  trace  of  love,  justice  and  pity  in  his 
soul  quite  destroyed.  "  I  hate  him,"  he  whispered 
to  himself,  clenching  his  fists.  "  I  care  not  what 
they  do  with  him.  I  hate  him." 

The  distribution  took  an  unusually  long  time 
that  morning,  and  Iddo  noticed  with  a  scowl  how 
that  all  the  poor  widows  and  little  children  lingered 
for  a  word  with  the  youngest  of  the  seven — 
Stephen,  the  well-loved  of  the  poor,  as  he  was  often 
called. 

"Hypocrite!"  said  Iddo  beneath  his  breath. 
As  he  uttered  the  word  he  was  startled  to  feel  a 
light  touch  on  his  shoulder ;  turning  quickly,  his 
eye  fell  upon  the  messenger  appointed  by  Caleb. 

"Tis  the  time,"  said  the  man  with  a  wink. 
"  Bring  him  outside  now  ;  I  will  be  at  hand  should 
you  need  help." 

Ben  Obed  nodded.  He  could  not  trust  himself 
to  speak,  the  hatred  had  grown  so  mighty  that  it 
struggled  to  cry  out.  He  approached  Stephen 
cautiously,  and  laid  his  hand  upon  his  arm. 

"  There  is  one — who  is  ailing — at  my  house,"  he 
said  with  difficulty.  "  Wilt  thou  come  with  me  ?  " 


IN  THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW.      269 

Stephen  looked  up  with  a  smile.  "  Peace  be 
with  thee,  Ben  Obed,  and  to  all  that  are  within 
thy  house ;  yes,  I  will  come  with  thee,  but  let  me 
first  speak  with  this  woman,  who  hath  patiently 
waited  for  me  since  the  beginning  of  the  distribu- 
tion. What  is  it  that  thou  wouldst  ask  of  me, 
woman  ?" 

"  I  have  brought  hither  my  babe,"  answered  the 
woman  in  a  low,  anxious  voice.  "  He  doth  not 
wake  and  smile  on  me  as  formerly,  but  only  sleeps. 
Surely  it  is  not  well  with  him." 

"  If  he  sleep  he  shall  do  well,"  said  Stephen, 
unconsciously  quoting  the  words  of  his  Master 
when  told  of  the  sickness  of  Lazarus.  "And  if 
God  will  that  he  wake  in  heaven,  then  wouldst 
thou  have  a  child  growing  to  manhood  among  the 
angels.  Dost  thou  not  covet  this  for  thy  child  ?' 

"  Nay,  for  I  love  him  too  much  to  wish  him  out 
of  my  arms,"  said  the  mother,  dashing  the  bright 
drops  from  her  eyes ;  "  and  I  have  not  seen 
heaven." 

"  My  business  with  thee  is  urgent,"  whispered 
Ben  Obed  imperatively.  Stephen  did  not  seem  to 
have  heard.  He  laid  his  hand  on  the  child's  head, 
"Thy  will  concerning  this  little  one  be  done,  O 
Father,  in  the  name  of  Jesus." 

"  But  thou  hast  not  asked  for  his  healing !"  cried 
the  mother. 


270  STEPHEN 

"  I  have  asked  for  the  best  that  heaven  holds  for 
him,  or  for  any  one  of  us,"  said  Stephen  gently. 
"But  see,  thy  child  hath  awakened,"  then  he 
turned  to  Ben  Obed.  "I  will  go  with  thee,"  he 
said  simply,  but  there  was  that  in  his  eyes  that 
caused  Iddo  to  drop  his  own  to  the  earth. 

Once  on  the  street  Stephen  walked  swiftly,  so 
swiftly  that  Ben  Obed  had  some  difficulty  in 
keeping  up  with  him.  He  exchanged  glances 
with  the  messenger  of  Caleb  who  was  following 
at  a  discreet  distance,  and  the  man  rapidly  over 
took  them. 

"  We  will  go  this  way,"  said  Ben  Obed  in  a  hard 
voice.  But  Stephen  was  silent.  Something  in 
his  still  face  angered  the  young  man  at  his  side 
beyond  control.  "Why  dost  thou  not  speak?"  he 
cried  in  a  choked  voice,  scarce  knowing  what  he 
said. 

"There  are  times  when  silence  is  more  excellent 
than  speech,"  said  Stephen. 

Ben  Obed  cursed  the  temple  under  his  breath, 
then  he  grasped  his  companion  by  the  arm.  "At 
least  I  am  not  a  hypocrite,"  he  said  violently.  "  I 
have  been  commanded  to  fetch  thee  before  the 
Council  of  the  Sanhedrim  that  thou  mayest  answer 
for  thy  heresies.  And  I  am  going  to  do  my  duty. 
Lay  not  the  consequences  of  thine  own  despicable 
folly  at  my  door." 


IN  THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW.       271 

"I  had  not  expected  this  at  thy  hands,"  said 
Stephen  with  a  look  of  full  understanding.  "  I 
had  rather  that  it  had  been  another— but  it  mat- 
ters not."  There  was  a  slight  tremor  in  his  voice 
as  he  spoke  the  last  words. 

Ben  Obed  laughed  aloud.  "Thou  wouldst 
rather  that  it  were  another,  for  then  mightest 
thou  hope  to  escape ;  but  it  is  not  another,  it  is  I, 
Ben  Obed,  and  because  thou  hast  cheated  me  out 
of  the  woman  I  love,  I — hate  thee." 

Stephen  was  silent.  The  twain,  followed  by 
the  ill-omened  messenger,  presently  came  to  the 
temple  enclosure.  Without  a  word  Ben  Obed  hur- 
ried his  companion  through  the  crowded  courts, 
neither  heeding  the  curious  looks  with  which  they 
were  regarded,  till  at  length  they  stood  before 
the  closed  door  of  the  great  Chamber  of  Council, 
called  also  the  "  Hall  of  Squares." 

Caleb  with  a  detachment  of  temple  police 
stood  on  guard.  He  was  looking  anxious  and 
worn,  but  his  eye  brightened  as  it  fell  upon  Ste- 
phen. Motioning  to  the  guard  to  close  in  around 
the  prisoner,  he  himself  listened  at  the  closed 
door ;  presently  he  laid  a  cautious  hand  upon  the 
fastening  and  with  an  air  of  deep  solemnity  intro- 
duced his  head  into  the  sacred  apartment.  Ap- 
parently receiving  some  signal  from  within,  he 
immediately  withdrew  it.  "Pass  in,"  he  said 


272  STEPHEN 

briskly,  laying  a  compelling  hand  upon  Stephen's 
shoulder. 

There  was  an  awful  stillness  in  the  great  room 
as  the  two  entered,  followed  by  the  lesser  officers, 
who  ranged  themselves  on  either  side  of  the  ac- 
cused man.  Then  a  murmur  ran  about  the  circle. 
At  the  sound  Stephen  raised  his  eyes  and  looked 
calmly  about  him.  These  were  the  men  who  had 
slain  his  Lord  ;  they  would  also  slay  him — he  knew 
it — and  yet  the  knowledge  brought  with  it  only 
a  singular  joy.  "They  hate  me,  because  I  am 
like  him,"  he  said  within  himself,  and  the  glory  of 
that  thought  became  visible  upon  his  face. 

Jonathan,  the  High  Priest,  was  speaking  now ; 
with  an  effort  the  prisoner  compelled  himself  to 
listen.  "Thou  art  arraigned  before  this  sacred 
assembly  and  Senate  of  Israel  on  the  charge  of 
blasphemously  speaking  against  Jehovah  ;  against 
this  most  Holy  Temple ;  and  against  the  laws 
and  institutions  of  Moses  and  of  the  Prophets, 
ordained  by  Jehovah  to  speak  his  pleasure  to  the 
children  of  men.  We  shall  hear  these  charges 
confirmed  by  witnesses,  according  to  our  laws 
which  thou  hast  despised,  but  which  thou  shalt 
tread  under  foot  no  longer  with  impunity.  Fetch 
the  first  witness. — Dost  thou,  Ezek,  recognize  in 
this  man  that  Stephen  who  hath  blasphemed  God, 
the  temple,  and  the  law  ? " 


IN  THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW.       273 

"  I  do,  most  worshipful  and  High  Priest  of 
Jehovah.  This  is  the  man." 

"Tell  us  now  what  thou  hast  heard  him  say." 

"  I  have  heard  him  say  that  the  malefactor,  Jesus 
of  Nazareth,  who  of  late  died  the  accursed  death, 
after  having  been  duly  and  righteously  convicted 
of  his  crimes  before  this  most  sacred  Council — I 
have  heard  him  declare,  that  this  man  was  Jehovah 
made  manifest  in  the  flesh.  And  that  therefore 
his  precepts  and  commands  are  more  binding  than 
the  precepts  of  Moses,  who  was  a  sinful  man  like 
unto  ourselves." 

"  Hast  thou  heard  him  say  aught  concerning  the 
temple?" 

"  I  have  heard  him  say  that  the  Nazarene  shall 
shortly  return  to  destroy  this  place,  so  that  not  one 
stone  shall  remain  upon  another,  and  that  all  things 
which  Moses  commanded  shall  be  done  away.  The 
Gentiles  moreover  and  them  that  are  alien  shall 
see  these  things  and  rejoice,  for  that  this  Jesus 
shall  hereafter  come  in  the  clouds  of  heaven  and 
gather  his  elect  from  the  uttermost  parts  of  the 
earth.  The  Nazarenes  have  the  intent  moreover 
to  possess  the  earth,  and  to  overthrow  all  powers 
and  governments  and  all  gods  that  have  ever  ruled 
among  men,  to  the  end  that  they  may  establish  the 
man  Jesus  upon  the  throne  of  power." 

"  Didst  thou  hear  the  man  declare  these  things  ? " 
18 


274  STEPHEN 

"  I  did,  most  sacred  High  Priest." 

"  Enough  ! — Iddo  Ben  Obed,  thou  mayest  stand 
forth.  Dost  thou  know  this  man  ? " 

"I  do,  my  lord." 

Stephen  looked  up  at  the  sound  of  this  voice,  and 
a  keen  spasm  of  pain  swept  across  his  face. 

"  Look  at  him  !  "  whispered  .  Issachar  to  his 
neighbor.  u  He  evidently  fears  this  witness  more 
than  the  other— though  his  testimony  was  suffi- 
ciently damning." 

"And  what  hast  thou  to  say  concerning  him?" 
continued  the  monotonous  voice  of  the  High 
Priest. 

"He  hath  spoken  blasphemously  against  Moses 
and  against  this  holy  place,  even  as  hath  already 
been  said  in  your  hearing,  declaring  that  God 
regardeth  neither  this  temple  nor  the  holy  city  of 
Jerusalem,  inasmuch  as  the  Lord  Jesus  did  in  his 
lifetime  pronounce  against  them  anathema;  he 
also " 

"  Hold !  How  is  it  that  thou  dost  call  the  Naza- 
rene  Lord  ?  Art  thou  also  one  of  them  ? " 

The  witness  turned  pale.  He  cast  a  murderous 
look  at  Stephen.  "  No,"  he  said  fiercely.  "  I  but 
repeat  the  word  which  these  men  make  use  of  in 
their  blasphemous  harangues  to  the  people ;  the 
words  slipped  from  me  unawares." 

"  Proceed." 


IN  THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW.       275 

"  He  hath  declared  that  neither  by  laws  of  man's 
devising  nor  by  temples  of  man's  building  can 
Jehovah  be  pleased.  That  all  these  things  shall 
be  brought  to  naught ;  but  that  the  words  of  the 
Nazarene  shall  remain." 

"  Enough  !  There  is  no  need  for  further  testi- 
mony. Let  the  accused  stand  forth." 

Stephen  obeyed.  And  all  that  sat  in  the  Coun- 
cil, looking  steadfastly  on  him,  saw  his  face  as  it 
had  been  the  face  of  an  angel. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE   LIFTED   VEIL. 

THEN  said  the  High  Priest,  after  the  manner  of 
the   formal   procedure,   "Are  these  things 
so?" 

And  Stephen,  looking  about  on  the  seventy  men 
before  whom  he  stood,  the  heads  and  leaders  of 
that  forlorn  remnant  of  the  chosen  people,  deso- 
late because  of  their  rebellion  against  the  God  who 
had  borne  with  them  so  long  and  patiently,  was 
moved  to  bring  again  the  wonderful  promises  of 
Jehovah  to  their  minds.  So  plain  did  it  all  appear 
to  him,  filled  as  he  was  with  that  spirit  of  light 
which  the  Lord  had  vouchsafed  according  to  his 
word,  and  which  he  had  also  promised  to  pour  out 
freely  upon  all  men.  A  glorious  hope  was  stirring 
in  his  breast  as  he  looked  from  one  to  the  other  of 
the  stern  faces  before  him.  Hatred  indeed  and 
stubborn  self-satisfaction  he  saw  written  thereon, 
(276) 


THE  LIFTED  VEIL.  277 

but  what  could  stand  before  the  all-powerful  spirit 
of  truth  ?  What  if  it  should  be  granted  him  to 
mightily  convince  these  men ;  to  see,  perchance, 
some  such  glorious  exhibition  of  God's  grace  as  had 
been  manifested  at  Pentecost. 

"  Men,  brethren  and  fathers,  hearken  !  "  he  began, 
and  at  the  sound  of  that  inspired  voice  every  eye 
was  fastened  upon  him.  "The  God  of  glory 
appeared  unto  our  father  Abraham  and  said  unto 
him  :  '  Get  thee  out  of  thy  land  and  from  thy  kin- 
dred, and  come  into  the  land  which  I  shall  show 
thee.'  Then  came  he  out  of  the  land  of  the  Chal- 
daeans  and  dwelt  in  Haran ;  and  from  thence,  when 
his  father  was  dead,  God  removed  him  into  this 
land,  wherein  ye  now  dwell.  He  gave  him  no  inher- 
itance in  it,  not  even  so  much  as  to  set  his  foot 
upon ;  but  he  promised  that  he  would  give  it  to 
him  and  to  the  generations  after  him,  when  as  yet 
he  had  no  child. 

"  And  God  spake  thus  unto  him,  '  Thy  children 
shall  sojourn  in  a  strange  land,  and  they  shall  be 
enslaved  and  evil  entreated  for  the  space  of  four 
hundred  years.  But  the  nation  which  hath  perse- 
cuted them  I  will  judge ;  I,  Jehovah,  have  declared 
it.  And  after  that  shall  thy  children  come  forth 
out  of  bondage  and  they  shall  serve  me  in  this 
place.'  And  he  gave  him  the  covenant  of  circum- 
cision. And  so  Abraham  after  that  Isaac  was  born, 


278  STEPHEN 

circumcised  him  on  the  eighth  day.  And  to  Isaac 
in  due  time  was  born  Jacob ;  Jacob  also  had  twelve 
sons,  whom  we  call  the  patriarchs.  And  the  patri- 
archs, moved  with  jealousy  against  Joseph  their 
brother,  sold  him  into  Egypt.  Nevertheless  God 
was  with  him,  and  delivered  him  out  of  all  his 
afflictions,  and  gave  him  favor  and  wisdom  before 
Pharaoh,  King  of  Egypt,  insomuch  that  Pharaoh 
made  him  governor  over  all  the  land. 

"  Now  there  came  a  mighty  famine,  which  ex- 
tended throughout  all  Egypt  and  Canaan,  and  the 
people  were  wasted  by  it.  Our  fathers  also  had  no 
food,  but  Jacob,  hearing  that  there  was  corn  in 
Egypt,  sent  forth  his  sons  to  fetch  some.  And 
when  that  was  consumed  which  they  brought,  they 
went  again  the  second  time  ;  and  Joseph  made  him- 
self known  unto  his  brethren,  and  he  brought  them 
into  the  presence  of  Pharaoh.  After  that,  Joseph 
sent  for  Jacob  his  father,  and  for  all  his  kindred, 
numbering  in  all  three  score  and  fifteen  souls. 
They  went  therefore  into  the  land  of  Egypt,  and 
Jacob  died  there,  and  in  due  time  the  patriarchs, 
our  fathers,  also  ;  and  they  were  buried  in  Shechem, 
in  the  land  which  Abraham  had  bought  for  a  burial 
place. 

"But  as  the  time  of  the  promise  drew  nigh, 
which  God  had  given  unto  Abraham,  the  people 
grew  and  multiplied,  till  there  arose  another  king 
over  Egypt  which  knew  not  Joseph. 


THE  LIFTED  VEIL.  279 

"The  new  king  dealt  deceitfully  with  our  nation, 
wickedly  compelling  our  fathers  that  they  should 
cast  out  their  babes  to  die.  At  this  time  Moses 
was  born,  and  he  was  beautiful  in  the  sight  of  God. 
Three  months  was  he  nourished  in  his  father's 
house,  and  when  he  was  cast  out,  Pharaoh's  daugh- 
ter rescued  him  and  brought  him  up  as  her  own 
son.  So  Moses  was  instructed  in  all  the  wisdom 
of  the  Egyptians,  and  he  became  mighty  in  word 
and  deed. 

"  Now  when  he  was  well  nigh  forty  years  of  age, 
it  came  into  his  heart  to  visit  his  brethren,  the 
children  of  Israel.  And  seeing  one  of  them  suffer 
wrong,  he  defended  him,  and  avenged  him  that  was 
oppressed,  smiting  the  Egyptian  that  he  died— 
supposing  that  his  brethren  would  understand  how 
that  God  by  his  hand  was  giving  them  deliverance ; 
but  they  understood  not.  And  the  day  following 
he  came  again  upon  two  of  them  at  strife,  and 
urged  them  to  be  at  peace,  saying  : — 

" '  Sirs,  ye  are  brethren ;  why  do  ye  wrong  one 
another  ? ' 

"  But  he  that  did  his  neighbor  wrong  thrust  him 
away,  saying,  *  Who  made  thee  a  ruler  and  a  judge 
over  us  ?  Wouldst  thou  kill  me,  as  thou  didst  kill 
the  Egyptian-  yesterday  ? ' 

"  And  Moses  fled  at  this  saying,  and  became  an 
exile  in  the  land  of  Midian.  Here  he  took  to  him- 


28o  STEPHEN 

self  a  wife,  and  two  sons  were  born  to  him.  And 
when  forty  years  had  passed,  an  angel  appeared  to 
him  as  he  wandered  one  day  in  the  wilderness  of 
Sinai ;  and  the  angel  was  as  a  burning  flame  of 
fire  in  a  bush  of  the  mountain — the  bush  burned, 
yet  was  not  consumed.  When  Moses  saw  it,  he 
wondered  at  the  sight ;  and  as  he  drew  near  to 
behold,  there  came  a  voice  of  the  Lord,  saying : 

"'I  am  the  God  of  thy  fathers,  the  God  of 
Abraham,  and  of  Isaac,  and  of  Jacob.' 

"  Then  Moses  trembled,  and  hid  his  face,  and 
the  Lord  said  unto  him  : 

" '  Loose  the  shoes  from  thy  feet,  for  the  place 
whereon  thou  standest  is  holy  ground.  I  have 
surely  seen  the  affliction  of  my  people  which  are 
in  Egypt,  and  have  heard  their  groaning,  and  I  am 
come  down  to  deliver  them.  Now  come,  I  will 
send  thee  into  Egypt.' 

"  So  it  came  to  pass  that  this  very  Moses,  whom 
the  people  of  Israel  had  refused,  saying,  'Who 
made  thee  a  ruler  and  a  judge?'  God  sent  to  be 
both  a  ruler  and  a  deliverer,  by  the  hand  of  the  angel 
which  appeared  to  him  in  the  bush.  And  this 
man,  Moses,  led  the  Israelites  forth,  working  great 
signs  and  wonders  in  Egypt,  and  in  the  Red  Sea, 
and  in  the  wilderness,  for  the  space  of  forty  years. 

"This  is  that  Moses  which  said  unto  the  children 
of  Israel,  '  A  prophet  shall  God  raise  up  unto  you 


THE  LIFTED  VEIL.  281 

from  among  your  brethren  like  unto  me.'  This  is 
that  Moses  that  was  with  the  people  in  the  wilder- 
ness, with  the  angel  which  spake  to  him  in  the 
Mount  of  Sinai,  who  also  received  the  law  at  the 
hands  of  the  living  God  to  give  unto  us.  But  our 
fathers  refused  him  their  obedience,  and  thrust 
him  away  from  them,  turning  back  in  their  hearts 
unto  Egypt  and  saying  unto  Aaron  : 

" '  Make  us  gods  which  shall  go  before  us,  for  as 
for  this  Moses,  which  led  us  forth  out  of  the  land 
of  Egypt,  we  wot  not  what  is  become  of  him.' 
Then  made  they  for  themselves  a  golden  calf,  and 
brought  a  sacrifice  unto  the  idol,  rejoicing  in  the 
works  of  their  hands. 

"  But  God  turned,  and  gave  them  up  to  serve  the 
host  of  heaven  ;  as  it  is  written  in  the  book  of  the 
prophets : 

"  '  Did  ye  offer  unto  me  slain  beasts  and  sacrifices 
forty  years  in  the  wilderness,  O  house  of  Israel  ? 
And  afterward  ye  took  up  the  tabernacle  of  Moloch, 
and  the  star  of  the  god  Rephan,  the  figures  which 
ye  made  to  worship  them.  I  will  carry  you  away 
beyond  Babylon.' 

"  Our  fathers  had  the  tabernacle  of  the  testimony 
in  the  wilderness,  according  to  the  covenant  of 
God  unto  Moses,  who  fashioned  it  like  unto  the 
figure  that  was  revealed  unto  him.  This  taber- 
nacle also  our  fathers  brought  into  the  promised 


282  STEPHEN 

land,  when  they  entered  it  with  Joshua,  God  thrust 
ing  out  the  heathen  nations  from  before  their 
faces,  and  in  it  they  worshipped  unto  the  days  of 
David,  who,  finding  favor  in  the  sight  of  God, 
asked  that  he  might  build  a  habitation  for  the  God 
of  Jacob.  And  Solomon,  his  son,  built  a  temple. 
Howbeit  the  Most  High  dwelleth  not  in  houses 
made  with  hands  ;  as  saith  the  prophet — 

'"  The  heaven  is  my  throne, 

And  the  earth  the  footstool  of  my  feet ; 

What  manner  of  house  will  ye  build  me  ?  saith  the  Lord, 

Or  what  is  the  place  of  my  rest  ? 

Did  not  my  hands  make  all  things?" 

Here  the  speaker  paused  and  looked  about  upon 
the  faces  of  his  audience  ;  some  were  sneering  out- 
right, others  whispering  to  their  neighbors,  while 
others  still  regarded  him  with  looks  of  malignant 
hatred.  Not  one  of  all  the  seventy  had  appre- 
hended his  meaning,  he  thought  bitterly.  Not  one 
cared  for  his  words.  Of  what  use  to  continue  the 
sublime  retrospect.  A  wave  of  fiery  indignation 
swept  away  the  last  remnant  of  fear,  and  in  a  voice 
ringing  with  inspired  passion,  he  burst  out : 

"  Ye  stiff-necked  and  uncircumcised  in  heart  and 
ears !  Ye  do  always  resist  the  Holy  Spirit ;  as 
your  fathers  did,  so  do  ye.  Which  of  the  prophets 
did  not  your  fathers  persecute  ?  And  they  killed 
them  which  showed  before  of  the  coming  of  the 


THE  LIFTED  VEIL.  283 

Righteous  One,  of  whom  ye  have  now  become  the 
betrayers  and  murderers.  Ye  who  received  the  law 
as  it  was  ordained  by  angels  and  kept  it  not ! " 

For  an  instant  there  was  a  breathless  silence, 
that  mighty  arrow  tipped  with  a  living  fire  had 
found  lodgment  in  every  heart.  Then  a  low, 
murderous  hiss  ran  about  the  circle.  With  one 
accord  the  assembly  rose  to  their  feet,  but  some 
invisible  power  held  them  back. 

Stephen,  the  despised  follower  of  the  crucified 
Nazarene,  was  looking  up  steadfastly.  Angels  had 
lifted  for  him  the  dark  veil  of  mortality ;  the  hall 
of  judgment  and  the  faces  of  his  infuriated  judges 
faded  from  before  his  eyes  ;  he  saw  instead  the 
unspeakable  glories  of  the  New  Jerusalem,  God 
enthroned  amid  innumerable  companies  of  angels, 
and  Jesus  standing  with  outstretched  hands  to 
receive  him.  In  an  ecstasy  of  joy  he  cried  out : 

"  Behold,  I  see  the  heavens  opened,  and  the  Son 
of  Man  standing  on  the  right  hand  of  God ! " 

Only  a  glimpse,  but  what  mattered  it  now  to  him 
that  the  dark  flood  of  hatred  had  broken  loose  and 
was  sweeping  him  away  with  wild  tumult  towards 
certain  death.  He  did  not  see  the  infuriated  mob 
of  his  executioners ;  he  scarce  realized  that  he  was 
being  dragged  through  the  streets  followed  by  a 
yelling  multitude,  roused  from  their  apathy  by  the 
familiar  scent  of  blood. 


284  STEPHEN 

"  Beyond  the  gates — it  is  the  law  ! " 

"This  is  the  place — here  are  stones  in  abun 
dance !  Quick !  or  the  Nazarenes  will  be  to  the 
rescue." 

"  Let  the  witnesses  cast  the  first  stones — it  is  the 
law  ! " 

"  Well  thrown,  Esek !  Again — here  is  a  larger 
one  !  Now  the  other,  quickly  ! " 

But  the  other  witness,  with  face  as  white  as  that 
of  the  dying  man,  had  broken  through  the  circle 
and  fled  away  shrieking  towards  the  city — "  My 
God  !  my  God  !  they  are  killing  him  !  " 

"  Let  be,  the  law  is  fulfilled.  Quick,  or  he  will 
yet  be  rescued — the  mob  is  increasing.  What  is 
that  he  is  saying  ?  "  For  the  victim,  blood-stained, 
faltering,  had  dragged  himself  to  his  knees. 

"Lord  Jesus,  receive  my  spirit." 

A  shower  of  stones  and  fierce  yells  ;  he  is  sink- 
ing, but  again  he  speaks.  Saul  can  hear  it,  for  he 
stands  near,  guarding  the  garments  of  them  that 
are  fulfilling  the  law.  They  can  all  hear,  for  he 
cries  in  a  loud  voice,  that  his  murderers  may 
remember  it  afterward  for  the  comfort  of  their 
guilty  souls  : 

"  Lord,  lay  not  this  sin  to  their  charge."  And 
when  he  had  said  this,  he  fell  asleep. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

THE   WATCHFUL   LOVE. 

A  NAT  was  spinning  in  the  cool  shadow  of 
the  house;  the  stones  of  the  little  court 
had  been  newly  washed,  and  a  refreshing  odor 
of  cleanliness  mingled  with  the  fragrance  which 
poured  out  from  the  snowy  bells  of  the  lilies 
beside  the  cistexn.  Close  to  her  feet  snuggled  the 
three  small  brown  children,  listening  while  she 
sang.  After  a  time  the  singer  faltered  a  little ; 
she  was  chanting  the  Psalm  of  the  Watchful  Love : 

"  Jehovah  is  thy  keeper, 
Jehovah  thy  abode  on  thy  right  hand ; 
The  sun  shall  not  hurt  thee  by  day, 
Neither  the  moon  by  night." 

She  paused.     What  was  that   deep,  dull   roar  ? 
Her  face  paled  a  little. 

"  Sing  !  "  cried  the  boy  imperatively,  pulling  at 
her  robe. 

(285) 


286  STEPHEN 

"Sing!"  echoed  the  baby,  looking  up  at  her 
with  his  soft,  starry  eyes. 

As  for  the  little  maiden,  she  contented  herself 
with  softly  stroking  the  girl's  sandaled  foot. 

"  Jehovah  keep  thee  from  all  evil." 

Yes,  she  could  surely  hear  a  sound  of  tumult — 
what  could  it  be  ? 

"  He  will  keep  thy  life, 
— "  O  my  God  !     Keep  him — keep  him  ! — 

"  Jehovah  keep  thy  coming  and  thy  going 
Henceforth  and  forever ! " 

The  singer  started  to  her  feet  with  a  cry.  The 
street  door  had  burst  open  violently,  a  man  rushed 
in,  ghastly,  breathless,  with  wild  staring  eyes ;  she 
at  first  failed  to  recognize  Ben  Obed. 

"  My  God  !  they  are  killing  him  !  " 

"  Where  ? " 

"  Outside  the  Damascus  Gate — they  are  stoning 
him ! " 

Anat  stood  for  an  instant  like  some  beautiful 
soulless  statue  of  despair.  Then  a  wild  fire 
leapt  to  her  eyes. 

"Tell  them  ! "  she  said,  and  fled  away  out  of  the 
open  door,  away — away  toward  the  Damascus 
Gate. 

Women   stared  after  her,   men  stretched  forth 


THE  W 'A  TCHFUL  L  O  VE.  287 

their  hands  to  grasp  her,  but  she  heeded  them  not ; 
her  feet  seemed  leaden,  the  minutes  hours.  The 
Damascus  Gate — would  she  ever  reach  it  ?  Again 
and  again  Ben  Obed's  awful  cry  sounded  in  her 
ears : 

"  My  God  !  they  are  killing  him  !  " 

The  gate — the  gate  at  last ;  but  it  is  choked  with 
people  coming  in.  Men,  she  dimly  saw,  men  with 
long  robes  and  broad  phylacteries  ;  men  to  whom 
the  gate-keepers  did  reverence  while  they  shrank 
back  with  involuntary  fear.  Men  who  drew  away 
from  her  white  robe  and  whiter  face  muttering, 
"A  mad  woman — a  mad  dog !  " 

At  last  she  has  struggled  through  them,  outside 
the  Damascus  Gate  at  last.  Where — where  ?  Yes, 
yonder  is  a  crowd,  it  must  be  there. 

"  Let  me  through,  for  God's  sake !  Let  me 
through  !  " 

Staring  stupidly  at  her,  the  crowd  separated. 
There  upon  the  ground,  half-hidden  under  a  pile  of 
stones,  lay — something.  She  threw  herself  upon 
her  knees,  pulling  madly  at  the  rough,  broken 
rock  with  her  delicate  fingers.  Then  she  gave  a 
long,  heart-broken  scream  and  fell  forward  in  mer- 
ciful unconsciousness. 

"My  daughter."  There  was  no  answer,  though 
the  black  eyes  were  wide  open.  Mary  hesitated 


288  STEPHEN 

an  instant,  her  sad  lips  moved  in  prayer.  "Anat, 
my  child,"  she  said,  softly.  "  Wilt  thou  not  look 
once  more  upon  his  face  before  they  bear  him 
hence.  I  would  that  thou  see  for  thy  comfort  that 
God  hath  set  upon  him  the  visible  seal  of  his  love, 
in  that  the  peace  that  passeth  understanding  is 
writ  thereon." 

The  girl  rose  feebly.  "  Take  me  to  him,"  she 
said,  putting  out  her  hand. 

And  Mary  led  her  into  the  peaceful  chamber 
where  they  had  laid  him.  The  afternoon  sun  shot 
long  rays  of  splendor  across  the  face  on  the  pillow, 
beautiful  with  the  beauty  of  youth  and  of  holiness, 
and  touched  with  the  sublimer  beauty  of  death. 
The  look  that  he  had  worn  when  he  cried  out  at 
sight  of  Jesus  waiting  to  receive  him  yet  lingered 
there,  his  face  was  as  the  face  of  an  angel  who 
slept. 

"  For  so  he  giveth  his  beloved  sleep,"  murmured 
Mary,  who  stood  at  her  side.  At  that  word  the 
maiden  turned  and  the  pent-up  fountain  of  her 
tears  broke  forth.  And  the  two  wept  together — 
but  not  as  those  without  hope. 

And  so  as  the  sad  hours  crept  by,  devout  men 
carried  forth  the  dead  Stephen  to  his  burial,  mak- 
ing great  lamentation  over  him.  And  the  poor  to 
whom  he  had  daily  ministered,  and  them  that  he 
had  healed  and  comforted  from  all  the  city  and  the 


THE  WATCHFUL  LOVE.  289 

country  round  about  followed  him  to  the  tomb ; 
and  the  streets  of  the  city  were  filled  with  the 
sound  of  the  wailing  and  loud  crying. 

As  for  the  men  which  had  done  this  thing,  they 
hid  themselves  ;  and  some  of  them  exulted  because 
that  an  enemy  was  dead,  and  some  were  ashamed, 
while  others  still  —amongst  them  Saul  of  Tarsus — 
listened  to  the  sound  of  the  wailing,  and  shook 
their  fists. 

"  It  is  the  beginning  of  lamentations  for  such  as 
blaspheme  the  law,"  said  these.  "To-morrow  they 
will  forget  this  dead  man  in  the  multitude  of  their 
own  distresses." 

In  the  house  of  John,  the  family  sat  that  evening 
on  the  house-top  as  was  their  wont,  and  they 
talked  together  of  him  that  had  gone  ;  and  while 
they  mourned  indeed  they  also  rejoiced,  for  they 
knew  that  he  had  fought  a  good  fight,  and  that 
while  the  earth-clouds  hung  dark  and  threatening 
above  their  heads,  this  beloved  one  had  passed 
through  and  beyond  and  was  safe  forever  more. 

John  remembered  the  words  of  Jesus  how  on 
that  last  night  he  had  said  to  them,  "  Let  not 
your  hearts  be  troubled  ;  ye  believe  in  God,  believe 
also  in  me.  In  my  Father's  house  are  many  man- 
sions ;  if  it  were  not  so,  I  would  have  told  you.  I 
go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you,  and  I  will  come 

'9 


ago  STEPHEN 

again,  and  receive  you  unto  myself ;  that  where  I 
am,  there  ye  may  be  also." 

While  he  yet  spake,  another  came  suddenly  into 
their  midst,  a  ghastly,  despairing  figure,  his  gar- 
ments hanging  in  rags  about  him,  his  face  torn  and 
bleeding.  And  as  they  looked  in  amazement  and 
affright,  the  man  spoke  and  his  voice  was  hoarse 
and  weak,  as  of  one  who  had  wept  many  hours. 

"  I  am  a  dying  man,"  he  said,  "  for  I  will  expiate 
my  guilt  before  to-morrow's  sun  rise  upon  the 
earth.  But  first  I  must  confess  before  you  what  I 
have  done,  then  if  thou  wilt  slay  me  for  it  I  shall 
rejoice,  in  that  I  shall  be  spared  the  further  guilt 
of  taking  my  own  wretched  life." 

"Ben  Obed!"  cried  Anat,  with  a  sudden  pre- 
monition of  what  he  was  about  to  confess. 

"Yes,  Ben  Obed,  apostate — false  witness— false 
friend — murderer."  And  he  poured  out  in  rapid 
disjointed  sentences  the  story  of  his  part  in  that 
awful  day's  work.  There  was  silence  when  he  had 
finished,  and  the  wretched  man  turned  blindly  as 
if  to  go  away,  but  John  laid  a  detaining  hand  upon 
his  arm. 

"Stay,"  he  said,  and  there  was  the  boundless 
love  and  forgivenness  of  Jesus  in  his  voice.  "Thou 
hast  indeed  sinned,  and  grievously,  but  he  forgave 
thee  at  the  last,  even  as  did  Christ  when  he  prayed 
for  them  that  slew  him.  And  thinkest  thou  not 


THE  WATCHFUL  LOVE.  291 

that  he  would  bid  thee  live — live  to  carry  on  the 
task  which  he  has  left  unfinished  ? " 

"I  am  unworthy,"  groaned  Ben  Obed. 

"  Which  of  us  is  worthy  ?  "  said  Peter.  "  Be- 
hold, I  denied  the  Lord  himself  with  curses,  yet  he 
bade  me  care  for  the  church,  saying  unto  me, 
'  Simon,  Simon,  behold  Satan  hath  desired  to  have 
you,  that  he  may  sift  you  as  wheat ;  but  I  have 
prayed  for  thee,  that  thy  faith  fail  not.  And  when 
thou  art  converted  strengthen  thy  brethren.'  I 
wot  that  this  word  was  not  for  me  only,  but  for  all 
them  that  have  been  tempted  beyond  that  they 
can  bear." 

And  when  Ben  Obed  heard  this,  he  fell  on  his 
knees  weeping,  and  they  all  prayed  with  him  that 
he  might  yet  be  restored  and  his  sins  forgiven. 
When  presently  he  rose  up,  his  face  was  full  of 
hope.  "  Behold,"  he  cried,  "  the  Lord  hath  for- 
given me,  for  the  burden  hath  been  eased  from  off 
my  soul.  Yet  must  I  go  away  from  this  place 
whither  the  spirit  shall  lead  me."  Then  he  turned 
to  Anat.  "Canst  thou  also  forgive?"  he  asked, 
and  his  voice  trembled. 

The  maiden  was  silent,  but  only  for  a  moment. 
She  rose  in  her  place,  and  stretched  out  her  hand 
toward  the  young  man.  "  I  forgive  thee,"  she  said 
slowly,  "as  I  know  he  would  have  me  forgive." 

Ben'  Obed  kissed  the  extended   hand   humbly, 


292  STEPHEN 

then  he  went  away  whither  the  Spirit  led  him, 
and  no  one  of  them  saw  his  face  more  while  they 
lived.  But  in  after  years  John  heard  of  one  who 
preached  Christ  among  the  slaves  of  Alexandria, 
suffering  many  things  for  Christ's  sake,  and  at  the 
last  dying  beneath  the  scourge.  The  name  of  this 
man  was  Ben  Obed,  so  said  the  pilgrim  who  told 
the  thing. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

A    FLASK   OF   CRYSTAL. 

"  'T'HE  beasts  are  gone,  and  there  is  an  end  of 

1       it ;  but  I  care  not." 

"  Thou  wouldst  have  told  a  different  tale  not 
many  years  since."  And  the  speaker  laughed. 
"  Poof !  I  am  cold,"  he  continued,  stooping  to  stir 
the  fire.  "We  might  as  well  have  gone  back 
before  the  sun  set ;  there  is  no  fuel  here." 

The  other  man  shrugged  his  shoulders  indiffer- 
ently, and  spread  his  lean  fingers  over  the  scanty 
fire.  But  he  said  nothing ;  after  a  time  his  com- 
panion spoke  again  in  a  slow,  meditative  way,  as  if 
to  himself : 

"  My  lord  will  say  this  :  '  A  poorer  than  I  hath 
need  of  the  beasts,  therefore  he  hath  taken  them. 
Would  that  he  had  asked  me,  and  I  would  have 
given  him  freely ;  nevertheless  if  he  hath  need,  it 
is  in  itself  sufficient  to  excuse  the  deed.'  " 

(293) 


294  STEPHEN 

"  Verily,"  broke  in  the  other  with  a  sneer,  "  and 
because  of  this  senile  madness  the  tribe  waxes 
poorer  day  by  day.  Abu  Ben  Hesed  is  a  fool !  I, 
Ben  Kish,  say  so.  What  inheritance  will  my  sons 
have  that  is  worth  the  having  if  these  things 
continue  ? " 

"  Senile  madness,  dost  thou  call  it  ?  And  what 
says  Ben  Abu,  who  succeeds  as  chief  when  the 
old  man  shall  be  gathered  to  his  fathers  ? " 

"  I  have  no  dealings  with  him,"  answered  Ben 
Kish  sullenly.  "  He  harps  continually  on  the  same 
string.  '  Do  this  because  the  Nazarene  commanded 
it.  Forbear  the  other  because  the  Nazarene  de- 
clared that  it  was  wrong.'  What  do  I  care  for  this 
dead  Nazarene  or  his  sayings  ?  Moreover  I  do  not 
believe  the  tales  that  they  tell  of  him,  nor  do  any 
believe  in  Judaea,  save  them  that  be  poor  and  have 
nothing  to  lose  thereby.  I  asked  concerning  the 
thing  when  I  went  up  to  Jerusalem  of  a  great 
Rabbi,  whom  I  saw  in  the  temple.  I  had  paid  my 
vows  and  offered  my  sacrifice  according  to  the  law, 
and  I  heard  the  man  speaking  to  the  people  con- 
cerning this  new  doctrine  of  the  Nazarene.  '  Blas- 
phemous,' he  called  it ;  'a  cunning  device  of  Satan 
to  entrap  the  foolish  of  heart,  and  above  all,  con- 
trary to  the  law  of  Moses.'  Moreover,  them  that 
practise  these  unlawful  sayings  in  Jerusalem  are 
shortly  to  be  dealt  with." 


A  FLASK  OF  CRYSTAL.  295 

"  Said  he  so  indeed  ?  "  exclaimed  the  other  man, 
who  was  called  Simeon.  "Then  is  it  something 
more  than  senile  madness  that  doth  ail  our  wor- 
shipful lord ;  the  devil  himself  hath  a  hand  in  it." 

"  Listen,"  said  Ben  Kish,  leaning  toward  his 
companion,  "  I  am  minded  to  tell  thee  what  he 
further  said  to  me  in  private.  Swear  to  me  that 
thou  wilt  not  reveal  it  ? " 

"By  the  temple  !  "  cried  Simeon  readily. 

Ben  Kish  looked  behind  him  and  on  either  side 
as  if  he  feared  that  some  one  might  be  lurking 
near.  The  glimmering  wastes  of  desert  showed 
vast  and  empty,  stretching  away  beneath  the  keen 
sparkle  of  countless  stars  ;  the  night  wind  wander- 
ing in  the  hollow  darkness  cried  aloud  for  lone- 
liness ;  the  crouching  camels  stared  at  the  meagre 
fire  and  chewed  their  cuds  in  drowsy  content- 
ment. "  I  have  a  feeling  that  some  one  is  near — 
and  listening,"  he  said,  shivering  a  little,  and 
throwing  a  fresh  handful  of  fuel  on  the  dying 
fire. 

The  other  man  laughed,  but  he  also  shivered. 
"There  is  always  that  feeling  in  the  desert  at 
night,"  he  said.  "  It  must  be  the  stars,  that  look 
down  like  large  eyes  out  of  heaven  ;  or  the  wind, 
that  hath  in  it  the  sound  of  a  woman  wailing  for  her 
dead.  But  what  hast  thou  to  say  to  me  ?  " 

"  Thou  hast  sworn  ?  " 


296  STEPHEN 

"  I  have  sworn — and  by  the  temple ;  what  more 
wouldst  thou  ? " 

"  I  spoke  with  him  concerning  our  chief,"  said 
Ben  Kish,  "of  how  he  came  up  to  Jerusalem  and 
fell  in  with  them  that  told  him  of  the  Nazarene, 
and  how  that  since  that  time  he  doth  continually 
exhort  and  preach  to  us  concerning  the  man,  call- 
ing him  the  Messiah,  the  Holy  and  Righteous  One 
foretold  by  the  prophets  and  by  Moses. 

"'  Alas,'  said  the  Rabbi,  'he  hath  been  snared 
by  evil  counsels,  and  he  will  also  lead  away  after 
him  all  that  hear.' 

"'  He  hath  not  so  led  me,'  I  said,  'for  I  believe 
not  on  a  man  who  commands  that  if  an  enemy 
smite  thee  on  one  cheek,  thou  immediately  turn 
to  him  the  other  that  he  may  smite  again ;  and 
if  a  thief  take  away  thy  camel  let  him  have  thy 
horse  also  ;  it  is  unjust ! ' 

"'It  is  not  only  unjust ;  it  is  unlawful,'  said  this 
wise  Rabbi.  '  An  eye  for  an  eye,  a  tooth  for  a 
tooth  is  the  law — a  good  law  and  wise.'  " 

"Yet  must  we  submit  to  the  chief  of  our  tribe," 
said  the  man  who  listened,  "  that  is  also  the  law." 

"  Nay,  friend,"  cried  Ben  Kish  triumphantly, 
"listen  still  further.  I  said  something  of  the  like 
to  the  wise  Rabbi,  and  he  made  me  answer  thus  : 
'  The  unbeliever  and  the  blasphemer  shall  be  cast 
forth  and  his  inheritance  shall  be  given  to  them 


A  FLASK  OF  CRYSTAL.  297 

which  are  faithful,  for  thus  is  it  written  in  the  law. 
If,  therefore,  there  be  them  amongst  you  which 
are  able,  rise  up  and  overcome  this  man  who  hath 
spoken  thus  blasphemously,  and  cast  him  forth  that 
the  inheritance  be  thine ;  so  may  the  Lord  ever 
prevail  against  false  prophets  and  workers  of  in- 
iquity.' " 

"  Holy  Jerusalem !  "  exclaimed  Simeon  under  his 
breath.  "Smite  Ben  Hesed?  Cast  Ben  Hesed 
forth  from  his  own  tribe  ?  The  man  wot  not  of 
whom  he  was  speaking." 

"  One  must  use  discretion  with  such  an  one," 
admitted  Ben  Kish.  "  I  have  already  spoken  of 
the  matter  with  the  father  of  my  wife.  He  is  a 
wise  man,  as  thou  knowest,  and  he  hath  moreover 
a  bitterness  against  Ben  Hesed  because  that  he 
spake  severely  to  him  of  his  dealings  with  the  two 
Egyptian  brats,  whom  we  found  half  dead  in  the 
desert  some  years  ago  The  man  was  ready  to 
believe  the  word  of  strangers  rather  than  the 
word  of  his  sister's  son,  which  was  unjust ;  Pagiel 
moreover  hath  not  forgotten  the  matter — nor  will 
he  forget." 

"If  Ben  Hesed  be  cast  forth,  who  would  then  be 
chief?"  said  Simeon,  drawing  his  beard  thought- 
fully through  his  hand  and  looking  intently  into 
the  coals. 

Ben  Kish  studied  the  face  opposite  him  in  silence 


298  STEPHEN 

for  a  moment  before  replying.  "Who  else  should 
it  be  but  Pagiel,  the  next  of  kin  ? "  he  said  at  length. 

"And  after  him?" 

"After  him,  the  husband  of  his  daughter,  since 
his  sons  are  both  dead."  And  Ben  Kish  drew  him- 
self up  proudly  and  looked  about  him  as  if  he  were 
already  chief. 

"Ah  ! " 

"  Hast  thou  aught  to  say  against  it  ?  "  demanded 
the  son  of  Kish  sharply,  half  involuntarily  laying 
his  hand  upon  the  knife  in  his  girdle.  "  Dost  thou 
then  prefer  a  chief  who  sends  for  his  enemy  when 
he  hath  been  despoiled  of  him,  and  reasons  with 
him  forsooth,  and  gives  him  a  present  and  soft 
words,  instead  of  rising  up  and  smiting  him,  as 
is  the  fashion  of  men  since  the  world  began  ?  ay, 
and  will  be,  despite  the  driveling  commands  of  any 
number  of  false  prophets.  Betray  me  if  thou  wilt. 
Go  to  Ben  Hesed  and  say  :  '  The  son  of  Kish  hath 
devised  evil  against  thee  in  his  heart,  therefore 
smite  him.'  Would  he  smite  me,  the  doting  grey- 
beard ?  Pah,  I  spit  in  his  face !  "  And  he  leaned 
forward  and  spat  venomously  into  the  fire. 

The  other  man  laughed  silently  at  sight  of  his 
rage.  "  I  will  not  go  to  Ben  Hesed  with  this  tale," 
he  said  at  length ;  "  have  I  not  sworn — and  by  the 
temple  ?  Say  on,  friend,  how  wilt  thou  bring  this 
thing  to  pass  ? " 


A  FLASK  OF  CRYSTAL.  299 

Ben  Kish  looked  at  him  suspiciously.  "  I  will 
say  no  more,"  he  said  sullenly.  "  If  thou  wilt  side 
with  the  follower  of  the  Nazarene,  who  is  become 
a  fit  prey  for  the  vultures  because  of  his  blasphem- 
ous folly,  well.  But  I  tell  thee  that  strange  things 
will  come  to  pass.  Thou  wilt  see  it." 

"  I  have  not  said  that  I  believe  in  the  Nazarene," 
said  his  companion.  "The  old  law  is  good;  as  for 

Ben  Hesed,  I "  he  stopped  short  and  stared 

fixedly  at  a  certain  red  coal  which  winked  sleepily 
at  him  from  the  midst  of  the  fire,  and  from  which 
he  seemed  presently  to  have  gotten  some  further 
inward  light,  for  he  went  on  more  briskly.  "I 
also  have  an  account  to  square  with  Ben  Hesed, 
therefore  thou  mayest  speak  freely  with  me;  I 
promise  thee  that  I  will  help  on  the  lawful  issue  in 
this  matter,  and  that  right  diligently." 

"Dost  thou  swear  this  ?" 

"  By  the  soul  of  my  father ;  by  the  God  of  the 
Covenant,  and  by  the  stars  of  heaven." 

"Well  then,  to-morrow  Ben  Hesed  will  set  forth 
for  Jerusalem— never  mind  how  I  know,  thou  wilt 
see — he  will  set  forth,  he  and  certain  chosen  ones 
of  his  who  also  believe  on  the  Nazarene ;  and  we 
will  remain  behind  in  charge  of  the  stuff — of  the 
women,  of  the  children,  the  young  men,  the 
maidens,  the  tents  and  the  furniture  thereof,  the 
herds  and  the  flocks." 


300  STEPHEN 

"  But  he  will  return." 

"  He  will  not  return,  he  nor  any  that  go  forth 
with  him,  nor  shall  any  know  what  hath  befallen 
him." 

"  And  how  canst  thou  accomplish  this  ? " 

Ben  Kish  looked  about  him  once  more ;  the  stars 
were  very  bright  over-head  now,  and  the  lonely 
wind  wailed  loudly  in  his  ear ;  it  swept  away  with  a 
moan  into  the  empty  desert,  the  loose  sand  leaping 
up  beneath  the  trail  of  its  unseen  garments. 

"There  be  many  things  under  the  sun,"  he  said 
at  length,  his  face  whitening  a  little — "  of  which 
thou  hast  not  heard,  and  of  which  I  have  heard 
only  a  moon  since.  This  is  one  of  them."  And  he 
drew  from  his  breast  a  tiny  flask  of  crystal,  filled 
with  a  colorless  liquid.  "  I  have  but  to  drop  the 
contents  of  this  flask  into  water,"  he  whispered, 
leaning  forward,  and  laying  his  hand  upon  his 
companion's  breast,  "and  they  that  drink  thereof 
will  sleep— sleep  sound  and  long  " 

"  What  meanest  thou  ? "  exclaimed  the  "other, 
drawing  back  into  the  friendly  darkness. 

"  They  will  wake  no  more  who  drink,  either  for 
war  or  peace ;  the  desert  shall  work  its  will  upon 
them  who  have  trodden  under  foot  the  law." 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

A  SCARLET  THREAD. 

"  T^HESE  matters  whereof  thou  hast  spoken  to 
1  us  are  good,  my  lord  ;  of  the  truth  of  them 
am  I  well  convinced,  because  of  thy  wisdom  in 
showing  forth  the  prophecies  which  are  writ  by  the 
hand  of  holy  and  righteous  men  in  the  Scriptures," 
and  Pagiel  bowed  himself  before  Ben  Hesed  with 
a  solemn  countenance. 

Ben  Hesed  laid  aside  the  parchment  roll  from 
which  he  had  been  reading,  and  a  smile  of  exceed- 
ing sweetness  dawned  in  his  keen  eyes.  "My 
heart  is  rejoiced,  son  of  my  sister,"  he  said  gently, 
"because  thou  hast  believed  these  wondrous  tid- 
ings. It  shall  be  well  with  thee,  both  in  this 
present  world  and  in  the  world  to  come ;  even  as 
our  glorified  Lord  hath  declared,  'Blessed  is  he 
that  hath  not  seen  and  yet  hath  believed.'  Would 
that  every  one  in  this  company  of  ours  could  also 
find  the  light."  (301) 


302  STEPHEN 

" '  In  the  mouth  of  two  or  three  witnesses  shall 
every  word  be  established,'  as  is  it  written,  my 
lord.  If  now  of  those  holy  men  who  consorted 
with  the  Nazarene  in  his  life-time,  one  could  come 
into  the  desert  and  preach  to  us  of  him  that  was 
crucified  there  would  remain  not  one  of  us  all  who 
should  not  believe." 

"  I  have  thought  of  that — many  times,"  said  Ben 
Hesed,  drawing  his  heavy  brows  together.  "  Surely 
I  ought  to  do  this  thing,  that  all  they  that  dwell  in 
this  land  may  hear  the  good  tidings  of  this  exceed- 
ing great  joy.  To  my  enemy  also  could  be  preached 
the  words  of  love  and  good  will,  then  would  peace 
reign  in  the  desert.  His  will  should  be  done  on 
earth  even  as  in  heaven,  no  more  shedding  of 
blood,  no  more  strife,  no  more  hatred.  And  why 
indeed  should  not  these  things  be  ? "  and  the 
speaker's  face  glowed.  "  It  is  most  simple — most 
easy.  We  have  but  to  obey — obey  exactly  the 
words  of  the  holy  Jesus." 

"Most  easy — most  simple,"  murmured  Pagiel, 
rolling  up  his  eyes  sanctimoniously.  "  It  will 
doubtless  soon  come  to  pass  ;  then  will  the  lion  lie 
down  with  the  lamb,  even  as  it  is  written." 

"I  will  do  it,"  cried  Ben  Hesed,  "and  I  will  set 
forth  without  delay.  Some  one  of  them  can  surely 
be  spared,  if  not  of  the  apostles,  the  young  man 
Stephen,  a  most  learned,  most  holy  one.  I  will 


A  SCARLET  THREAD.  303 

also  fetch  the  two  Egyptians,  who  will  by  this  time 
have  grown  wise  in  the  faith.  Thou  wilt  love  them 
now,  my  Pagiel,  because  of  the  love  of  Christ  in 
thy  heart.  Love  is  the  fulfilling  of  the  law." 

"  Assuredly  ! "  cried  the  other,  with  a  venomous 
gleam  in  his  eye,  "  the  fulfilling  of  the  law ;  very 
good — very  true.  We  must  all  think  of  the  law." 

"  We  need  think  of  but  two  laws  now,  God  be 
praised,"  said  Ben  Hesed.  "Even  as  it  was  de- 
clared by  the  Crucified  One,  '  Thou  shalt  love  the 
Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy 
soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind.  This  is  the  first  and 
great  commandment.  And  the  second  is  like  unto 
it,  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself.  On 
these  two  commandments  hang  all  the  law  and  the 
prophets.'  " 

"Wilt  thou  that  I  command  the  beasts  to  be 
made  ready  for  the  start  ? "  suggested  Pagiel  with 
an  impatient  glance  at  Ben  Hesed's  abstracted 
face.  "  On  such  an  errand  there  can  scarce  be  too 
great  speed." 

"  Thou  art  right.  Make  ready,  and  at  once ;  I 
will  take  thee  with  me,  also  my  sons,  and  ten  men 
which  are  skilled  with  the  bow,  since  it  may  be 
that  we  fall  in  with  evil  company  by  the  way." 

"  Resist  not  evil,  as  saith  the  Nazarene,"  quoth 
Pagiel  piously.  "  Will  it  not  be  better,  my  lord,  to 
leave  me  in  charge  of  the  women  and  little  ones, 
since  I  am  next  of  kin  to  my  lord  ? " 


304  STEPHEN 

Ben  Hesed  looked  sharply  into  the  meek  face  of 
Pagiel.  "  I  will  leave  thee  in  charge,"  he  said;  but 
he  looked  thoughtfully  at  the  man  more  than  once 
within  the  hour. 

As  for  Pagiel,  he  was  glad  because  that  the  eye 
of  man  is  not  able  to  read  the  heart.  He  laughed 
within  himself  as,  with  the  help  of  Ben  Kish,  he 
made  ready  the  beasts  of  burden  and  the  pro- 
visions, for  he  thought  that  his  day  was  come. 
And  he  laughed  yet  again  aloud  when  Ben  Hesed 
set  forth  on  his  journey,  taking  with  him  his  two 
sons  together  with  ten  men  who  were  skillful  with 
the  bow. 

His  wife  heard  him  laugh  as  he  stood  in  the 
door  of  the  tent,  and  she  asked  him,  "  What  is  it 
that  hath  pleased  the  heart  of  my  lord  ? " 

"To  every  man  cometh  a  time  to  rejoice,"  he 
made  answer,  "  and  long  enough  have  I  eaten  out 
my  heart  in  bitterness.  Make  ready  now  a  supper, 
for  we  will  feast  this  night."  Then  he  turned  to 
his  son-in-law.  "  Where  is  Simeon  ?  " 

" Nay,  I  know  not,"  answered  Ben  Kish.  "He 
is  perhaps  with  the  herds." 

"  Go  and  fetch  him,"  commanded  Pagiel. 

Ben  Kish  made  search  for  the  man  Simeon  ;  but 
he  found  him  not,  neither  with  the  herds  nor  any- 
where about  the  encampment.  "  The  man  is  gath- 
ering fuel,"  he  said  scowling,  "or  he  hath  gone  per- 


A  SCARLET  THREAD.  305 

chance  after  some  wild  beast  to  slay  it."  But  at  the 
setting  of  the  sun  Simeon  had  not  returned.  Nor 
did  he  come  that  night. 

"  I  hope,"  said  Ben  Kish,  "  that  a  wild  beast  hath 
slain  him." 

All  that  day  Ben  Hesed,  with  his  two  sons  and 
the  ten  men  who  were  skilful  with  the  bow,  made 
haste  on  their  journey  and  stayed  not.  "  For," 
said  Ben  Hesed,  "  I  should  have  done  this  thing 
many  moons  since ;  I  alone  am  not  sufficient  for 
the  work." 

At  evening  an  encampment  was  made  so  that 
they  might  rest  and  be  refreshed.  As  the  servants 
were  gathering  fuel  for  the  fires,  one  of  them  saw 
a  man  running  toward  the  place  where  they  were, 
and  he  went  and  told  Ben  Hesed,  saying,  "  Behold, 
we  have  seen  an  appearance  as  of  a  man  running. 
How  can  this  be,  seeing  that  we  are  already  a  day's 
journey  in  the  wilderness  ?  " 

But  even  as  he  told  the  thing,  the  runner 
approached  the  encampment,  and  he  fell  on  his  face 
before  Ben  Hesed. 

"  It  is  Simeon,"  said  Ben  Hesed.  "  Raise  him 
up  and  give  him  water  that  he  may  speak.  He 
hath  perchance  evil  tidings." 

So  they  raised  him  up  and  offered  him  water, 
but  he  would  not  drink  until  he  had  seen  the  skin 
from  which  the  water  was  taken ;  then  he  drank 
deep  and  long. 


306  STEPHEN 

"  What  doth  this  mean,"  said  Ben  Hesed,  "  art 
thou  then  smitten  with  madness,  or  hast  thou  tid- 
ings of  evil  ?" 

"  Tidings  of  evil,  alas,  my  lord,"  said  Simeon, 
bowing  himself  before  his  chief.  And  he  told  Ben 
Hesed  all  that  the  son  of  Kish  had  said  ;  also  how 
that  he  had  showed  him  the  crystal  flask  in  the 
desert  by  night.  "The  water-skin  wherein  the 
potion  was  mingled  is  marked,"  he  said.  "  I  went 
away  by  stealth  into  the  desert  that  I  might  meet 
thee  as  thou  earnest  out,  but  it  chanced  that  thou 
earnest  out  by  another  way,  and  I  was  not  able  to 
overtake  thee  till  now."  He  showed  them,  more- 
over, the  water-skin  bound  with  a  scarlet  thread 
about  its  nozzle. 

Ben  Hesed  rose  up  after  that  Simeon  had  told 
him  all,  and  he  went  away  into  the  desert  alone  for 
the  space  of  three  hours,  that  he  might  take  coun- 
sel with  the  Almighty  concerning  the  thing. 
When  he  returned  he  called  four  of  the  strong  men 
unto  him,  and  he  said  to  them,  "The  moon  is 
full  to-night,  therefore  get  ye  up  and  make  haste 
to  return  to  the  encampment.  And  when  thou  art 
returned  seek  out  Pagiel  and  the  son  of  Kish  and 
say  to  them  :  '  My  lord  hath  commanded  the  pres- 
ence of  you  both  that  he  may  speak  unto  you  con- 
cerning a  matter  of  importance.'  Say  no  more 
than  this  to  the  men,  and  if  they  come  with  you 


A  SCARLET  THREAD.  307 

willingly,  well,  but  if  they  will  not  come,  then 
fetch  them  straightway.  We  will  remain  in  this 
place  until  thou  shalt  return." 

So  the  four  men  made  haste  all  that  night  to 
return,  and  in  the  morning  they  stood  before  the 
tent  of  Pagiel  and  called  for  him  to  come  out — for 
he  slept  late  because  of  the  feasting. 

Pagiel  came  forth  after  a  space  and  heard  what 
the  men  had  to  say.  And  he  bowed  his  head 
before  the  messengers  of  Ben  Hesed.  "  I  will 
arouse  my  son,"  he  said,  "that  we  may  obey  the 
commands  of  my  lord.  He  would  doubtless  give 
to  us  some  further  directions  concerning  the 
herds." 

"  Awake ! "  he  cried  in  the  ear  of  Ben  Kish. 
"Awake  to  see  an  evil  day,  for  my  heart  mistrusts 
me  concerning  the  man  Simeon.  Thou  shouldst 
not  have  told  him." 

"  I  told  him  at  thy  bidding,"  cried  Ben  Kish ; 
"  and  thinkest  thou  that  we  could  carry  out  this 
thing  without  adherents  ?  If  thou  fearest  Ben 
Hesed,  why  not  refuse  to  go  ?  Tell  the  men  that 
thy  wife  is  ailing  and  that  I  am  with  the  herds. 
When  they  shall  search  for  me  I  will  flee  in  the 
opposite  direction." 

Pagiel  shook  his  head  gloomily.  "  Thy  counsel 
is  evil,  son  of  a  herdsman,"  he  replied.  "  My  wife 
is  already  at  the  fountain,  and  for  thee  would  they 


3o8  STEPHEN 

make  instant  search.  We  had  best  go  peaceably, 
for  if  we  refuse  they  will  suspect  evil  of  us — It 
may  be  after  all  that  he  hath  heard  nothing ;  and 
at  the  worst,  Ben  Hesed  is  a  merciful  man." 

So  the  two  came  forth  with  great  show  of  wil- 
lingness, and  they  went  with  the  messengers  of 
Ben  Hesed  into  the  wilderness  a  day's  journey. 

At  evening  they  stood  in  the  presence  of  Ben 
Hesed,  and  he  spoke  to  them  of  the  crystal  flask 
straightway.  "  Thus  wouldst  thou  have  slain  more 
than  a  half-score  of  souls  of  thine  own  kindred," 
he  said,  his  eyes  burning  with  a  fire  that  was  terri- 
ble to  see.  "And  that  without  warning  and  with- 
out mercy.  What  hast  thou  to  say  in  thy 
defense?" 

The  face  of  Pagiel  became  the  color  of  death 
when  he  heard  these  words,  and  he  would  have 
fallen  had  not  Ben  Kish  held  him  up.  "Thou  art 
unjust,"  cried  the  son  of  the  herdsman,  boldly. 
"  Prate  not  of  mercy  to  righteous  men.  An  enemy 
hath  told  thee  this  lie  concerning  us.  Twice  hast 
thou  believed  the  word  of  a  stranger  before  the 
word  of  thy  near  kinsman.  Thou  art  unjust !  " 

"Is  the  thing  not  true  then?"  said  Ben  Hesed, 
mildly,  though  his  eye  yet  burned  with  that  still 
and  terrible  light. 

"It  is  not  true,"  cried  Ben  Kish.  "I  swear  it 
by 


A  SCARLET  THREAD.  309 

"  Hold  !  "  said  Ben  Hesed,  sternly.  Then  he 
turned  to  Pagiel.  "Is  this  tale  of  the  poisoned 
water  true,  or  is  it  a  lie  ? " 

"  It  is  a  lie — a  foul  lie — a  blasphemous  lie,"  cried 
Pagiel  stoutly,  the  color  stealing  back  to  his  livid 
face.  "Would  I,  thinkest  thou,  lift  up  my  hand 
against  my  next  of  kin  ?  An  enemy  hath  dealt 
deceitfully  with  thee — may  God  requite  him  ! " 

"God  will  requite  him,"  said  Ben  Hesed 
solemnly;  "and  he  will  also  requite  thee.  Hear 
now  what  I  shall  say.  We  are  by  swift  dromeda- 
ries a  day's  march  from  the  encampment ;  this  dis- 
tance ye  can  accomplish  on  foot  without  undue 
fatigue  to  yourselves  within  the  space  of  three 
days.  Return,  therefore,  in  peace,  and  we  will 
proceed  on  our  journey." 

Pagiel  bowed  himself  before  his  lord.  "Thou 
art  a  just  man,"  he  cried.  But  in  his  heart  he 
called  Ben  Hesed  a  fool. 

"  Wilt  thou  give  us  provisions  that  we  faint  not 
by  the  way  ? "  asked  the  son  of  Kish,  looking  sus- 
piciously into  the  calm  face  of  his  chief. 

"Assuredly,"  answered  Ben  Hesed,  "both  of 
food  and  of  water."  And  he  arose  and  gave  com- 
mand to  his  servants  that  provision  should  be 
made  for  the  sustenance  of  the  two  men,  during  a 
three  day's  journey,  of  the  best  of  the  corn,  of  the 
dates,  and  of  the  cheeses  of  goat's  milk  which  they 


3  TO  STEPHEN 

had  provided.  A  skin  of  water  also  commanded 
he  to  give  them.  And  so  they  presently  set  forth, 
Ben  Hesed  and  his  company  upon  their  swift 
dromedaries,  their  faces  turned  toward  Judaea, 
Pagiel  and  the  son  of  Kish  walking  slowly  in  the 
opposite  direction,  bearing  upon  their  backs  the 
provision  which  Ben  Hesed  had  given  them. 

No  sooner  was  the  caravan  put  of  sight  and  hear- 
ing than  Pagiel  threw  down  his  burden  and  burst 
into  a  loud  laugh ;  and  he  kissed  Ben  Kish  on 
both  his  cheeks.  "Verily,"  he  cried,  "thou  art  a 
son  worth  the  having ;  for  this  day  thou  didst  save 
me  from  the  incredible  folly  of  confessing  to  yon- 
der hoary  knave  all  that  was  in  my  heart — the 
words  were  even  upon  my  lips.  Ha,  ha  !  The 
wisdom  of  Ben  Hesed  is  very  foolishness  compared 
with  the  wisdom  of  the  son  of  Kish.  Give  me  to 
drink,  son,  for  I  thirst  already  because  of  my 
laughter." 

Ben  Kish  let  down  the  water-skin  from  his 
shoulder.  Then  he  stared  at  it,  his  eyes  bulging 
from  his  head  in  terror.  About  the  nozzle  was 
bound  a  scarlet  thread. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

BEN   HESED    IN   JERUSALEM. 

ON  the  fifth  day  of  his  journey  Ben  Hesed 
reached  Jerusalem.  And  he  encamped  with- 
out the  city,  saying  to  his  servants,  "  Bide  ye  here 
while  I  offer  a  sacrifice  in  the  temple ;  afterward  I 
will  seek  out  the  men  with  whom  I  have  business." 

So  he  went  his  way  into  the  city,  he  and  his  two 
sons,  leaving  the  men  in  the  encampment.  And 
he  went  straightway  into  the  temple  and  offered  a 
burnt  offering  for  his  tribe  by  the  hand  of  the 
priest,  casting  also  a  goodly  sum  into  the  treasury 
for  a  thank-offering,  as  he  came  out,  because  that 
he  had  completed  his  journey  in  safety.  "  We  will 
go  now  to  the  house  of  John  the  Apostle,"  he  said 
to  his  sons,  his  face  shining  with  peace. 

But  as  the  three  of  them  went  their  way  through 
the  streets,  they  came  suddenly  upon  a  great  con- 
course of  people  gathered  about  the  doors  of  a 


3i2  STEPHEN 

synagogue.  They  could  see  that  the  synagogue 
also  was  crowded,  the  doors  standing  open  because 
of  the  pressure  of  the  multitude. 

Ben  Hesed  paused  for  a  moment,  and  it  seemed 
to  him  that  he  could  hear  the  sound  of  heavy  blows 
and  of  groaning  from  within.  The  multitude  also 
heard,  and  they  cried  aloud  and  gnashed  their 
teeth  at  the  sound. 

"  Fetch  the  blasphemers  forth  ! "  cried  one. 

"  Stone  them ! "  howled  another. 

"  What  is  this  that  is  taking  place  within  the 
synagogue  ?  "  asked  Ben  Hesed  of  one  who  stood 
next  him  in  the  crowd. 

The  man  glanced  carelessly  at  his  questioner. 
"  They  are  scourging  two  of  the  Nazarenes,"  he 
replied.  "There  is  no  use  to  try  to  get  in,  friend," 
he  added.  "  One  must  come  early  to  secure  a 
good  place  for  seeing  the  sport.  Fetch  the  blas- 
phemers forth  and  stone  them,"  he  yelled,  putting 
his  hand  to  his  mouth.  "  Ha !  they  will  fetch 
them  forth;  we  shall  see  them  after  all!"  And 
he  struggled  through  the  crowd  toward  the  steps 
of  the  synagogue. 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  this  tumult  ? "  said 
Ben  Hesed  again,  and  this  time  he  put  his  ques- 
tion to  a  respectable-looking  man  in  the  garb  of 
a  carpenter,  who  stood  eying  the  scene  with  an 
inscrutable  expression  upon  his  face. 


BEN  HESED  IN  JERUSALEM.  313 

The  man  turned  at  the  sound  of  his  voice,  and 
looked  at  him  suspiciously.  "  Whence  dost  thou 
come  that  thou  shouldst  ask  ? "  he  said  coldly. 
Then  with  another  searching  glance  he  added, 
"They  are  merely  torturing  some  of  the  followers 
of  the  Nazarene  under  the  scourge.  It  is  lawful." 

"  Lawful!"  cried  Ben  Hesed.  "Who  is  it  that 
dares  call  such  an  outrage  lawful  ?  Room  here ! 
that  I  may  look  further  into  this  matter." 

But  the  carpenter  laid  a  warning  hand  upon  his 
arm.  "  Hist,  man,"  he  whispered.  "  If  thou  art 
indeed  a  friend  of  the  Nazarenes,  hold  thy  peace  ; 
else  wilt  thou  shortly  find  thyself  where  thou  canst 
advantage  neither  thyself  nor  them  that  believe." 

His  last  words  were  drowned  in  the  savage  yell 
with  which  the  multitude  greeted  the  appearance 
of  a  detachment  of  temple  police  armed  with 
drawn  swords.  These  marched  rapidly  down  the 
steps  of  the  synagogue— the  crowd  opening  to 
let  them  pass — half  dragging,  half  carrying  the 
limp  figures  of  two  men,  whose  blood-stained  gar- 
ments and  drawn,  ghastly  faces  betrayed  what  they 
had  suffered  within.  After  them  poured  out  the 
congregation,  gesticulating  and  talking  excitedly. 

"Stubborn  fools,"  Ben  Hesed  heard  one  man 
say.  "  They  have  but  to  confess  the  crucified 
Nazarene  accursed,  to  escape  all.  If  they  will  not 
do  that,  let  them  die." 


3M  STEPHEN 

"  Where  are  they  taking  these  men  ? "  said  Ben 
Hesed  to  the  carpenter,  who  still  stood  at  his 
elbow. 

"  To  the  prison,  to  recover  from  this  scourging, 
when  they  will  receive  another — or  worse — if  they 
repent  not  of  their  blasphemous  folly,"  answered 
the  man  in  a  hard  voice.  "  Let  us  get  out  of  this 
crowd,  for  God's  sake,"  he  whispered  in  the  next 
breath,  "  or  we  shall  both  be  seized." 

The  upper  end  of  the  street  was  comparatively 
clear  of  people,  and  here  they  presently  found 
themselves. 

"Thou  art  then  a  stranger  in  Jerusalem?" 
queried  the  carpenter,  wiping  the  great  drops  from 
his  forehead.  "  And  a  follower  of  the  man  Jesus  ? 
Ay,  I  thought  so.  Verily,  thou  must  needs  know 
that  it  were  best  to  get  thee  back  into  thine  own 
country — and  as  speedily  as  possible  ;  Jerusalem  is 
no  place  for  them  that  believe.  I  myself  am  go- 
ing this  very  day  with  my  wife  and  little  ones  ; 
only  this  morning  I  saw  the  spies  of  Saul  in  our 

street." 

\ 

"  Thou  blowest  both  hot  and  cold,  friend,"  said 
Ben  Hesed  severely ;  but  a  moment  since " 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  know  what  thou  wouldst  say.  I 
spoke  of  their  blasphemous  folly,  but" — and  he 
lowered  his  voice  to  a  whisper  and  looked  anxiously 
about — "  one  of  the  temple  police  stood  at  my 


BEN  HESED  IN  JERUSALEM.  315 

elbow ;  I  have  a  family  to  feed,  therefore  I  must 
needs  be  cautious." 

" '  Trust  in  the  Lord  and  do  good,  so  shalt  thou 
dwell  in  the  land,  and  verily  thou  shalt  be  fed.' 
Why  didst  thou  not  hold  thy  peace  altogether 
rather  than  speak  deceitfully  ? " 

The  man  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  I  have  no 
mind  to  be  either  scourged  or  stoned  for  the  faith," 
he  said  ;  "  I  saw  the  stoning  of  Stephen  and — 

"  What  is  it  that  thou  art  saying  ? "  cried  Ben 
Hesed  aghast. 

"  The  stoning  of  Stephen — hast  thou  not  heard 
of  it  ?  The  very  day  after  his  death  this  persecu- 
tion broke  out.  Saul  of  Tarsus  and  the  San- 
hedrim  " 

"Where  is  John?"  interrupted  Ben  Hesed. 
"And  the  other  apostles— what  of  the  women?" 

"  Some  of  the  apostles  are  in  prison,"  answered 
the  man  ;  "  others  are  in  hiding.  Many  of  the  dis- 
ciples are  fled  from  the  city.  Some  are  in  their 
graves ;  they  alone  are  safe,"  and  the  speaker 
shivered  with  apprehension,  and  again  looked  fur- 
tively about  him. 

"'Verily,  they  build  up  Zion  with  blood,  and 
Jerusalem  with  iniquity,"  said  Ben  Hesed  solemnly. 
"  '  Therefore  shall  Zion  for  your  sakes  be  plowed 
as  a  field,  and  Jerusalem  shall  become  as  heaps ; 
and  the  mountain  of  the  house  as  the  high  places 
of  the  forest.' " 


316  STEPHEN 

"I  cannot  tarry  longer,"  said  the  carpenter im 
patiently.     "  If  thou  art  a  discreet  man  thou  wilt 
leave  Jerusalem  before  nightfall.     For  my  part  I 
would  that  I  had  never  heard  of  the  Nazarene. 
Farewell." 

Ben  Hesed  looked  after  his  retreating  figure 
thoughtfully.  "What  shall  be  the  end  of  these 
things,  O  Lord  ?  "  he  murmured.  "  '  Behold  many 
shall  be  purified,  and  made  white,  and  tried ;  but 
the  wicked  shall  do  wickedly  and  shall  not  under- 
stand ;  the  wise  shall  understand.'  " 

"  Wilt  thou  that  we  return  unto  the  encamp 
ment?"  said  his  younger  son.  "We  shall  not  be 
able  to  find  them  that  we  would  ;  and  we  are  not 
sufficient  in  number  to  succor  the  distressed." 

The  eyes  of  Ben  Hesed  flashed.  "  Return  if 
thou  wilt,  son,  and  hide  beneath  the  robe  of  thy 
mother ;  but  as  for  me,  the  Lord  hath  brought  me 
up  to  Jerusalem  at  this  time  that  I  might  smite 
the  destroyer." 

"  I  am  no  coward,  and  that  thou  knowest  right 
well,  my  father,"  answered  the  young  man 
haughtily  ;  "  but  remember,  I  pray  thee,  that  we 
have  left  the  tribe  with  no  leader— now  that  Pagiel 
hath  been  proven  false.  If  we  should  all  three  fall, 
what  of  our  wives,  our  little  ones,  our  flocks  and 
our  herds?  Verily  they  would  come  upon  evil 
days,  and  shall  not  a  man  set  them  of  his  owr 


BEN  HESED  IN  JERUSALEM.  317 

household  before  them  which  are  strangers  ?  Re- 
turn thou,  my  father,  we  will  remain." 

"Thou  hast  spoken  not  unwisely,  son,"  admitted 
Ben  Hesed.  "  We  must  even  go  cautiously  about 
this  matter ;  and  if  presently  it  appear  that  there 
is  a  likelihood  of  bloodshed,  thou,  Ben  Abu,  shalt 
return  with  two  of  the  strong  men.  As  for  me  I 
am  already  old  ;  if  I  fall,  it  matters  not.  Come, 
let  us  be  going." 

So  they  went  their  way  towards  the  house  of 
John  ;  past  the  market-places  where  excited  groups 
were  discussing  the  reign  of  blood  which  had  be- 
gun in  Jerusalem ;  past  the  synagogues  crowded 
with  people — for  the  scourging  of  the  Nazarenes 
was  going  forward  briskly  in  many  places  at  once  ; 
through  dark  alleys  and  beneath  covered  archways, 
where  men  garbed  as  temple  police  lurked  to 
entrap  the  unwary ;  till  at  length  they  had  come 
to  the  street  which  they  sought.  It  was  choked 
with  people  from  end  to  end ;  but  a  singular  and 
almost  breathless  silence  prevailed. 

"  What  hath  befallen  here  ? "  asked  Ben  Hesed 
of  a  woman  who  stood  holding  a  baby  in  her  arms. 
The  woman  turned  upon  him  a  white  frightened 
face.  "Alas,"  she  cried.  "They  refused  to  fly 
when  they  were  warned,  declaring  that  God  would 
take  care  of  them.  And  now  it  hath  come  to  pass 
that  Saul  himself  hath  entered  into  their  dwelling. 
God  help  them ! " 


3i8  STEPHEN 

"  Dost  thou  speak  of  the  household  of  John  ? " 
asked  Ben  Hesed. 

"  Yes,  yes. — My  God,  he  has  seized  them  !  "  and 
the  woman  burst  into  a  hysterical  shriek  as  a  deep 
low  murmur  arose  from  the  multitude. 

"  Shame  !  Shame  ! "  cried  several  voices  at  once. 
"  Leave  the  women  in  peace !  " 

"  Room  there !  Silence  ! "  cried  a  harsh  voice. 
"  Use  your  swords,  men,  to  clear  the  way  !  " 

There  was  an  instant  scattering  amongst  the 
crowd,  mostly  composed  of  women  and  children- 
two  or  three  of  the  more  timid  ones  bursting  into 
loud  screams  at  sight  of  the  glittering  weapons. 

"Forward!"  commanded  the  leader,  a  swarthy 
undersized  man,  from  whose  scowling  face  and  fiery 
eyes  the  frightened  children  hid  their  faces. 

So  this  was  the  dreaded  Saul  of  Tarsus.  Ben 
Hesed  looked  at  him  with  undisguised  contempt. 
"  Murderous  coward ! "  he  muttered  beneath  his 
breath. 

But  now  the  prisoners,  bound  with  heavy  chains, 
were  filing  past.  Three  women,  their  faces 
wrapped  in  their  mantles,  in  whom  he  neverthe- 
less recognized  Mary,  the  mother  of  Jesus,  Anna, 
the  wife  of  Caiaphas,  and  Anat  the  Egyptian 
girl.  Behind  these  walked  a  young  man,  also 
bound,  whose  bleeding  face  and  torn  garments 
betrayed  the  fact  that  he  had  not  failed  to  defend 
those  committed  to  his  charge. 


BEN  HESED  IN  JERUSALEM.  3 19 

"  If  we  had  but  come  an  hour  earlier  we  might 
have  held  the  place,"  exclaimed  Ben  Hesed  clench- 
ing his  fists.  "  Let  us  follow  and  see  whither  they 
will  take  them.  It  is  useless  to  attempt  a  rescue 
now." 

"  To  the  Temple,"  came  the  second  command. 
"  Close  up  there,  and  march  more  rapidly.  Save 
thy  tears,  woman  ;  thou  wilt  have  further  need  for 
them." 

"  Coward  ! "  cried  Ben  Hesed  again. 

And  this  time  it  was  evident  that  the  quick  ear 
of  Saul  had  caught  the  sound,  for  he  turned  and 
fixed  a  murderous  look  upon  the  speaker.  "  Dog 
of  an  apostate  !  "  he  hissed,  "thy  day  is  coming." 

"  Callest  thou  me  dog?"  cried  Ben  Hesed  in  a 
fury,  and  would  have  closed  with  the  Pharisee  on 
the  spot,  had  not  his  two  sons  held  him. 

"  Let  be,"  whispered  the  younger  of  the  twain, 
"or  we  shall  not  be  able  to  save  them." 

Ben  Hesed  drew  back,  muttering  fiercely.  "  I 
will  slay  him  for  that  word,"  he  said.  "  Let  us 
follow  them  in." 

But  this  it  presently  appeared  was  impossible ; 
for  the  prisoners  being  now  arrived  at  the  Temple, 
were  conducted  by  way  of  the  Court  of  the  Women 
into  the  lesser  chamber  of  judgment.  And  im-, 
mediately  the  doors  were  shut. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

THE   MERCY   OF    ISRAEL. 

THE  light  which  streamed  in  from  the  single 
window  high  up  in  the  massive  wall  revealed 
a  square  room,  ceiled  and  paved  with  stone.  It 
was  empty  save  for  an  oaken  table,  behind  which 
in  a  high-backed  chair  sat  an  old  man  of  severe 
and  reverend  aspect.  On  either  side  of  him 
stood  two  officers  of  the  temple  police,  motion- 
less as  statues  and  armed  with  long  spear-pointed 
staves.  All  this  Anat,  who  was  the  first  of  the 
women  to  pass  into  the  chamber,  saw  with  a 
single  timid  glance.  She  shrank  back  before  the 
stern  eyes  of  the  man  in  the  chair,  and  reach- 
ing out  one  manacled  hand  touched  the  robe  of 
Mary,  who  was  just  behind  her.  The  mother  of 
Jesus  took  the  little  trembling  hand  and  held  it 
firmly. 

Saul  advanced  to  the  table  and  laid  upon  it  a  slip 
(320) 


THE  MERCY  OF  ISRAEL.  321 

of  parchment,  at  the  same  time  whispering  a  few 
words  into  the  ear  of  the  old  man,  who  frowned 
slightly  and  nodded  once  or  twice  as  his  eye  passed 
slowly  from  one  to  the  other  of  the  four  prisoners. 

"  Where  is  the  man  John  ?  "  he  demanded  sud- 
denly. 

No  one  answered. 

"  Can  ye  not  speak  ? "  he  cried,  striking  the  table 
with  his  clenched  fist,  "  or  hath  it  come  to  pass 
that  your  scurrilous  tongues  are  already  withered 
in  your  mouths?" 

"  If  thou  art  questioning  me,"  said  Seth  calmly, 
"  I  wot  not  where  the  apostle  is ;  he  went  forth  on 
some  errand  of  mercy  early  this  morning,  leaving 
me  in  charge  of  the  house.  We  be  law-abiding 
citizens,  dwelling  in  a  law-abiding  city,  wherefore 
hath  it  come  to  pass  that  we  are  thus  dragged 
through  the  streets  in  chains?" 

"That  shalt  thou  shortly  hear,"  replied  Annas 
grimly.  "  Hast  thou  examined  these  prisoners?" 
he  asked,  turning  to  Saul. 

"  I  examined  them  briefly  before  making  the 
arrests,  according  to  my  custom,"  answered  Saul. 
"  For  I  would  not  that  I  transgress  the  law  in  this 
work  of  purging  the  holy  city  of  them  that  blas- 
pheme. I  found  all  of  these  prisoners  obstinate 
and  stiff-necked,  unwilling  to  renounce  their  sins 
and  to  make  confession  of  their  unrighteousness, 


322  STEPHEN 

therefore  I  have  brought  them  before  thee  for  fur- 
ther examination  and  sentence." 

"This  being  so,  the  law  must  take  its  course 
with  them,"  said  Annas  sternly.  "  Do  thou,  Mary 
of  Nazareth,  stand  forth.  Remove  the  veil  from 
off  thy /ace." 

With  a  firm  step  the  mother  of  Jesus  advanced 
and  stood  before  the  table;  she  threw  back  the 
shrouding  mantle,  her  beautiful,  pallid  face  shin- 
ing forth  as  if  illumined  with  a  strange  inward 
radiance. 

Annas  looked  at  her  for  an  instant,  then  he 
dropped  his  eyes  and  fell  to  turning  over  the  parch- 
ments which  lay  before  him. 

"Art  thou  the  mother  of  the  Man  of  Nazareth  ?  " 

"  I  am." 

"Thou  didst  teach  him  to  believe  unholy  and 
blasphemous  things  regarding  himself  when  he  was 
a  child,"  said  Annas,  still  looking  down  at  the 
table  ;  "  therefore  did  he  continue  to  delude  him- 
self and  others  when  he  was  grown,  and  at  the  last 
perished  miserably  on  the  accursed  tree.  Hath  not 
God  punished  thee  sufficiently  for  thy  presumptu- 
ous sin  that  thou  dost  still  persist  in  pretending 
that  thy  son  is  the  Messiah  of  Israel  ?" 

"He  is  the  Messiah  of  Israel,"  said  Mary,  her 
deep  eyes  shining.  "Wherefore  my  soul  doth  mag- 
nify the  Lord,  for  he  hath  regarded  the  low  estate 


THE  MERCY  OF  ISRAEL.  323 

of  his  hand-maiden  ;  behold  from  henceforth  all 
generations  shall  call  me  blessed.  He  is  the  Mes- 
siah of  Israel,  but  he  is  also  much  more,  he  is  the 
Prince  of  Peace,  the  Saviour  of  the  world.  For 
the  Lord  hath  shewed  strength  with  his  arm,  he 
hath  scattered  the  proud  in  the  imaginations  of 
their  hearts.  He  hath  put  down  the  mighty  from 
their  seat,  and  exalted  them  of  low  degree.  And 
God  hath  delivered  his  holy  child  Jesus  from  death 
and  from  the  power  of  the  grave,  and  hath  set  him 
down  at  the  right  hand  of  power  for  ever  more." 

"  Daughter  of  Abraham,"  said  Annas,  lifting  his 
shaking  hand,  "thou  hast  blasphemed.  Thou 
knowest  the  penalty." 

"Father,"  cried  an  agonized  voice,  "forbear  this 
last  awful  sin,  lest  God  smite  thee  in  his  wrath  and 
consume  thee  to  ashes !  " 

At  the  sound  of  this  voice  the  face  of  Annas 
changed.  He  rose  to  his  feet  and  stared  for  a 
moment  at  the  shrouded  figure  which  knelt  before 
him. 

"Who — who  is  it  that  speaks  to  me?"  he  said, 
and  his  voice  trembled. 

"  It  is  I — thine  own  daughter,  Anna  ;  dost  thou 
not  know  me  ?  I  beseech  thee  by  the  mercies  of 
Jehovah  that  thou  raise  not  thy  hand  against  the 
mother  of  the  Christ." 

"Woman,  I  know  thee  not.     Get  thee  up  and 


324  STEPHEN 

stand  back.  Out  of  thine  own  mouth  art  thou 
already  condemned." 

"  I  care  not  for  myself — death  were  welcome. 
But  take  heed  to  thyself,  I  beseech  thee,  before 
thou  layest  violent  hands  upon  this  holy  woman." 

Annas  laughed  contemptuously.  "  Have  we  not 
crucified  the  carpenter?"  he  said,  "and  are  un- 
scathed ;  is  the  mother  of  the  carpenter  more  ex- 
alted ?  Nay,  we  shall  deal  with  her  after  the  law ; 
the  law  is  just." 

At  this  Seth  started  forward.  "  Prate  not  of  the 
law  who  art  a  murderer ! "  he  said  in  a  choked  voice. 
"  The  man  Jesus  was  guiltless  and  ye  did  condemn 
him.  Guiltless  also  are  these  women ;  release  them, 
but  do  with  me  as  thou  wilt — the  servant  is  not 
greater  than  his  lord." 

Annas  trembled  with  rage.  He  essayed  to  speak, 
but  the  words  died  on  his  lips. 

"  Now  seest  thou  what  manner  of  perverse  and 
pestilent  apostates  these  are,"  said  Saul.  "Fur- 
thermore, the  man  is  an  alien.  There  is  no  need 
that  we  continue  to  argue  this  matter  with  them. 
Israel  is  ever  merciful  and  just,  according  to  the 
commands  of  Jehovah,  therefore  let  them  be  pub- 
licly scourged  without  the  gates  ;  if  the  stripes  be 
wholesome  to  bring  them  back  to  their  right  minds 
and  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth,  well.  They  will 
then  confess  right  gladly  that  the  man  of  Nazareth 


THE  MERCY  OF  ISRAEL.  325 

and  all  his  works  are  of  the  devil.  After  this  shall 
a  blood  offering  be  made  for  them ;  so  shall  they 
be  cleansed  from  their  iniquities.  But  and  if  they 
will  not  so  confess,  let  their  sin  abide  upon  them  ; 
let  them  die  the  death  appointed  in  the  law  of 
Moses  for  such  as  are  blasphemers." 

"Justice  and  mercy  are  in  the  words  of  thy 
mouth,"  said  Annas  slowly.  Then  he  turned  to  the 
prisoners  :  "  Forty  stripes  save  one  shall  be  laid 
upon  each  and  every  one  of  you  to-morrow  at  about 
this  hour,  according  to  the  magnitude  of  your 
offences  and  the  law  of  Moses,  who  thus  appointed 
it  for  the  peace  of  Israel.  Afterward — if  ye  will 
not  confess — ye  shall  die  the  appointed  death." 

"  Mercy — have  mercy  !"  cried  Anna,  laying  hold 
of  his  robe.  "We  cannot  but  believe  the  things 
which  we  have  seen  and  heard.  Nay,  thou  wouldst 
thyself  believe  if  the  Lord  should  reveal  himsell 
to  thee." 

Annas  drew  away  with  a  gesture  of  abhorrence. 
"  Unhand  me,  woman,"  he  said  sternly.  "  Satan 
hath  blinded  thee  to  the  truth  ;  I  will  pray  for  thee 
that  thou  be  undeceived  at  the  last.  Take  them 
away." 

"Thrust  these  blasphemers  into  the  inner 
prison,"  commanded  Saul  a  half-hour  later,  "and 
remember  that  thou  answerest  for  them  with  thine 
own  life.  Come  not  to  me  on  the  morrow  with 


326  STEPHEN 

any  whining  tale  of  angel  or  devil,  and  think  thus 
to  excuse  thyself  for  their  escape.  Let  them  be 
missing  at  the  third  hour  to-morrow,  and  thou  thy- 
self shalt  suffer  in  thine  own  body  the  penalty  to 
which  these  are  condemned.  Thou  hast  heard." 

The  chief  jailer  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  I  have 
heard,  my  lord.  This  night  at  every  watch  will  I 
inspect  the  prisoners.  But  I  pray  thee  send  also 
additional  guards,  for  life  is  precious  to  me,  and  I 
have  not  forgotten  what  hath  happened  more  than 
once  when  these  Nazarenes  have  been  imprisoned  ; 
peradventure  the  man  himself  might  appear." 

"Coward  !"  growled  Saul.  "The  man  hath  per- 
ished off  the  face  of  the  earth,  so  likewise  shall 
perish  all  who  believe  on  him.  If  thou  art  one  of 
these,  room  shall  be  made  for  thee  within." 

"Nay,  my  lord,  nay,"  cried  the  jailer  trembling. 
"  I  do  not  believe — I  swear  it ;  but  there  have  been 
strange  things  of  late,  and  the  devil  himself  hath 
powers " 

"  I  will  send  a  guard,"  interrupted  Saul  shortly. 
"  Hold  thy  peace  and  do  thy  duty,  and  all  shall  be 
well  with  thee.  Admit  no  one." 

The  chief  jailer  bowed  himself  almost  to  the 
ground  before  the  Pharisee,  whose  renown  had  by 
this  time  spread  throughout  Jerusalem,  and  in 
whose  presence  the  temple  officials  from  the  high- 
est unto  the  lowest  trembled.  "  I  will  admit  no 


THE  MERCY  OF  ISRAEL.  327 

one,"  he  said,  and  he  again  made  obeisance  as  Saul 
strode  through  the  prison  gate. 

"  Lock  the  gate  and  double  bar  it,"  he  cried  irri- 
tably to  the  guard.  "  Then  stand  there  for  your 
lives ;  if  these  prisoners  get  away,  and  I  have  to 
die  for  it,  be  sure  that  not  one  of  you  shall  escape. 
Thrust  the  man  into  the  stocks,"  he  added  to  the 
turnkey,  who  stood  at  his  elbow;  "as  for  the 
women,  chain  them  to  the  floor.  I  will  come  after 
a  little  and  look  to  them.  Food  ?  No ;  let  them 
fast.  Give  them  water." 

In  the  inner  prison,  where  the  darkness  seemed 
only  the  more  intense  because  of  the  feeble  rays 
of  daylight  which  struggled  through  the  little 
square  of  grating  above  the  door,  were  the  four 
who  were  condemned  to  death.  The  young  man 
Seth  made  fast  in  the  stocks,  the  three  women 
chained  to  heavy  rings  which  were  riveted  into  the 
stone  floor. 

"Dost  think  that  He  will  deliver  us  ?"  whispered 
Anat,  laying  hold  of  the  robe  of  Mary  and  pressing 
it  to  her  lips. 

"  He  will  deliver  us,  beloved,  in  his  own  best 
way,"  answered  Mary  tenderly.  "  If  the  way  lie 
through  the  dark  valley,  then  will  the  end  thereof 
be  only  the  more  glorious." 

"  But  the  scourging — the  shame,  how — how  shall 
we  endure  it  ?  "  wailed  Anat  piteously. 


328  STEPHEN 

"  He  also  endured — being  divine,"  said  Mary, 
her  voice  trembling ;  "  and  shall  we  who  are  but 
mortal  shrink  back  ?  Think  not  of  the  morrow, 
save  as  thou  dost  think  that  to-morrow  we  shall 
stand  before  Him  in  clothing  of  immortality." 

"  But  if  we  fail,  deny  him  ? "  faltered  Anat.  "  I 
know  not  my  own  heart — whether  I  can  endure 
unto  the  end." 

"  He  will  give  thee  grace  when  the  need  comes. 
Wouldst  thou  at  this  moment  deny  him  ? " 

"No — ah,  no." 

"  Neither  wilt  thou  deny  him  on  the  morrow. 
He  giveth  his  strength  in  due  season,  and  to- 
morrow is  in  his  hand." 

As  for  Anna,  the  wife  of  Caiaphas,  she  sat  silent, 
her  head  bowed  upon  her  knees.  Mary  thought 
that  perhaps  she  slept,  and  in  her  tender  heart  she 
hoped  that  this  was  so. 

Every  hour  the  chief  jailer  flashed  the  light  of 
his  torch  into  their  prison.  "  Where  now  is  he 
that  delivereth?"  he  cried  tauntingly.  And  again, 
"  If  angels  visit  thee  during  the  night  watches  cry 
aloud,  for  I  have  sworn  by  my  life  to  deliver  thy 
bodies  to  judgment  on  the  morrow."  Being  in- 
sensible— as  indeed  are  most  mortals  to  celestial 
sights  and  sounds — he  did  not  perceive  that  the 
whole  place  was  filled  with  the  airs  of  heaven  and 
with  the  rustling  of  angelic  pinions. 


THE  MERCY  OF  ISRAEL.  329 

At  midnight  the  drowsy  guards  were  awakened 
by  a  loud  knocking  upon  the  outer  gate  of  the 
prison. 

"  Open  !  "  cried  a  voice.  "  Open  at  once,  in  the 
name  of  the  Sanhedrim."  The  governor  of  the 
prison  looked  out,  and  beholding  by  the  light  of 
the  lantern  that  it  was  Caleb  himself  who  knocked, 
he  opened  cautiously  and  admitted  him. 

"I  have  orders,"  said  Caleb,  "to  speak  a  word 
in  private  with  one  of  the  women  who  are  in  ward 
here ;  this  is  the  token  of  my  authority,"  and  he 
displayed  before  the  eyes  of  the  chief  jailer  the 
signet  ring  of  Annas. 

"But  the  Pharisee  Saul — "  began  the  jailer. 

Caleb  waved  his  hand  impatiently.  "  Fetch  the 
woman  out  to  me  and  at  once,"  he  said. 

"They  are  chained  to  the  floor,"  grumbled  the 
jailer,  "and  I  will  not  fetch  out  any  one  of  them, 
were  it  by  the  order  of  Herod  himself.  Go  thou 
in." 

So  Caleb  went  into  the  prison,  the  jailer  follow- 
ing close  upon  his  heels.  "  Which  is  the  woman 
called  Anna  ?  "  he  said.  "  I  have  here  a  message 
for  her." 

And  when  the  daughter  of  Annas  had  been 
pointed  out  to  him,  he  thrust  into  her  hand  a 
packet.  "  Use  what  is  within  to  save  the  honor  of 
thy  house,"  he  whispered.  "It  is  sent  thee  in 


33°  STEPHEN 

mercy  by  the  hand  of  Annas."     Then  he  turned 
swiftly  and  went  out. 

Anna  opened  the  packet,  a  vague  hope  stirring 
at  her  heart ;  but  she  shrank  back  with  a  shiver  as 
the  flash  of  the  departing  light  fell  upon  the  blade 
of  a  dagger. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

AT   THE   THIRD    HOUR. 

ON  the  morrow  a  great  crowd  had  assembled 
about  the  prison  which  held  the  four  who 
were  condemned  to  public  scourging  and  to  death ; 
for  evil  tidings  travel  fast,  and  there  is  ever  an 
ignoble  multitude  who  reckon  as  high  holiday  a 
spectacle  of  human  agony. 

Yet  there  were  those  who  looked  in  one  another's 
faces  with  sombre  and  despairing  eyes.  "The  last 
days  are  at  hand,"  they  murmured,  "the  days  of 
wrath  and  of  burning.  For  shall  not  God  avenge 
his  own  elect  which  cry  day  and  night  unto  him  ? 
Yea,  he  will  avenge  them,  and  that  right  speedily." 
But  still  the  sun  poured  down  with  impartial 
splendor,  gilding  alike  the  gloomy  walls  of  the 
blood-stained  prison,  and  the  yellow  curls  of  the 
year-old  babe.  And  the  placid  heaven  gave  no 
sign  of  the  invisible  hosts  of  glory  behind  its  azure 
wall.  (33i) 


332  STEPHEN 

Exactly  at  the  third  hour,  Saul  accompanied  by 
a  strong  guard  approached  the  prison.  His  face 
was  pale  and  haggard,  but  upon  it  was  stamped  a 
look  of  savage  determination  before  which  the  mob 
fell  back  with  a  dull  low  murmur. 

The  governor  of  the  prison  greeted  him  with 
manifest  joy.  "The  prisoners  which  thou  didst 
commit  to  my  charge  are  safe — quite  safe,  my 
lord,"  he  said,  rubbing  his  hands.  "  We  had  no 
visions ;  neither  angels,  earthquakes,  nor  demons. 
We  are " 

"  Fetch  them  forth,"  said  Saul,  with  a  peremp- 
tory gesture  and  a  fierce  look  at  the  jailer,  before 
which  that  functionary  drew  back  with  an  apolo- 
getic obeisance. 

"Yes,  certainly,  at  once,  my  worshipful  lord; 
just  as  soon  as  we  shall  be  able  to  undo  the  chains. 
Here  you,"  he  roared,  addressing  the  turnkey, 
"fetch  the  four  from  the  inner  prison." 

So  presently  the  condemned  came  forth  into  the 
prison  yard,  and  stood  before  Saul.  Their  faces 
were  calm,  even  joyful,  and  the  Pharisee  ground 
his  teeth  as  he  looked  at  them. 

"  Hast  thou  counted  the  cost  of  thy  perverse- 
ness  ? "  he  said  abruptly. 

"We  have  counted  the  cost,"  replied  Mary  of 
Nazareth  in  a  firm  voice,  "and  the  reward  is  ex- 
ceeding glorious  above  all  that  it  hath  entered  into 
the  heart  of  man  to  imagine." 


AT  THE  THIRD  HOUR.  333 

"Thinkest  thou  so?1'  answered  Saul.  "Those 
of  thy  company  may  be  of  a  better  mind.  Take 
heed  to  what  I  shall  say,"  he  added,  turning  to  the 
other  three.  "  The  Sanhedrim  is  full  of  mercy  and 
compassion ;  and  while  it  will  without  faltering 
carry  on  the  work  which  it  hath  undertaken  of 
cleansing  and  purifying  Israel  of  this  monstrous 
and  blasphemous  belief  in  a  perished  malefactor,  it 
also  offers  pardon  freely  to  all  who  confess  and 
forsake  the  error  of  their  ways.  If  now  at  this  last 
hour  ye  will  acknowledge  that  the  Nazarene  was 
an  impostor  inspired  by  the  father  of  lies  ;  that  he 
justly  died  the  accursed  death;  that  his  body  more- 
over was  stolen  by  his  followers  from  out  the  tomb 
in  which  it  was  buried,  for  the  express  purpose  of 
confirming  this  accursed  blasphemy  ;  if  ye  shall  now 
make  confession  of  these  things,  it  is  the  merciful 
mandate  of  them  which  are  in  authority  that  ye  be 
immediately  released  without  further  scathe  or 
punishment.  Ye  have  heard.  Wilt  thou,  maiden, 
so  confess,  thereby  securing  to  thyself  bodily 
safety  and  the  blessing  of  the  Almighty  ? " 

There  was  a  breathless  silence  for  an  instant, 
then  Anat  raised  her  large  dark  eyes  to  the  face  of 
the  Pharisee.  "  Sir,  I  have  heard  thy  offer  of 
safety,  and  this  is  my  answer.  I  believe  on  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  because  I  who  was  once  blind 
now  see ;  I  believe  that  he  was  put  to  death  upon 


334  STEPHEN 

the  cross  that  he  might  draw  all  men  unto  him  and 
heal  them  from  their  sins,  even  as  Moses  lifted  up 
the  serpent  in  the  wilderness  that  the  stricken 
Israelites  might  look  and  be  saved ;  I  believe  that 
he  arose  from  among  the  dead  on  the  third  day,  and 
is  set  down  forever  at  the  right  hand  of  God.  These 
things  I  do  affirm  and  believe  in  this  the  last  hour 
of  my  mortal  life." 

"Thou  art  condemned,"  said  Saul  slowly,  but  his 
face  was  more  white  than  the  face  of  the  maiden. 

"Young  man,"  he  said,  turning  to  Seth,  "wilt 
thou  confess  to  the  things  which  I  have  already 
enumerated,  that  thou  mayest  live  out  thy  days  in 
peace  ? " 

"I  cannot  deny  him  on  whom  I  have  believed, 
even  for  the  sake  of  life—  and  life  is  sweet,"  faltered 
Seth,  on  whom  the  shadow  had  lain  very  heavily 
all  the  night. 

"Thou  art  condemned,"  repeated  Saul  in  a  hol- 
low voice. 

"  Woman,  who  by  reason  of  thine  exalted  birth 
shouldst  have  remained  a  mother  in  Israel,  wilt 
thou  renounce  these  vile  errors  after  which  thou 
hast  strayed  ?  In  so  renouncing  thou  shalt  find 
again  a  father's,  a  husband's  forgiveness  and  favor. 
For  so  I  am  bidden  to  say  unto  thee." 

Anna  trembled  and  was  silent. 

"  Dost  thou  so  acknowledge  thy  sin  ? "  said  Saul ; 


AT  THE  THIRD  HOUR.  335 

and  it  seemed  to  them  that  listened  that  there  was 
a  note  of  entreaty  in  his  stern  voice. 

"  God  of  my  fathers  !  "  cried  the  wife  of  Caiaphas, 
looking  up  into  the  dazzling  blue  of  the  sky.  "  Help 
me  to  know  without  shadow  of  doubt  what  is  truth  ; 
and  enable  me  to  witness  to  it  without  faltering." 
Then  she  turned  to  Saul.  "  Tell  my  husband  and 
my  father,  that  the  forgiveness  and  favor  of  God  is 
rather  to  be  desired  than  the  forgiveness  and  favor 
of  any  mortal,  however  beloved.  I  believe  that 
Jesus  of  Nazareth  is  the  Messiah  of  Israel ;  and  if 
I  must  now  die  for  that  belief,  I  die  willingly." 

Saul  bowed  his  head  without  speaking.  "Close 
up  about  the  prisoners,"  he  commanded  the  guard, 
who  had  stood  silent  witnesses  of  the  scene,  "and 
conduct  them  to  the  place  of  punishment." 

Abu  Ben  Hesed  had  not  been  idle  during  the 
hours  which  had  passed  since  he  had  seen  the 
prisoners  disappear  behind  the  closed  door  of  the 
judgment  hall.  He  had  followed  them  to  the 
prison  ;  and  from  a  temple  underling  who  was  not 
insensible  to  the  glitter  of  gold  as  seen  through  the 
fingers  of  the  desert  chief,  he  had  made  shift  to 
find  out  the  number  of  guards,  the  strength  of  the 
walls  and  the  general  plan  of  the  prison. 

"  A  safe  prison,  truly,"  he  said  to  his  informant, 
as  the  gold  changed  hands — neither  apparently 
being  aware  of  the  transaction. 


336  STEPHEN 

"  Safe  as  the  tomb,"  assented  the  temple  official, 
slyly  rubbing  the  coin  with  a  corner  of  his  robe. 
"  Once  within  yonder  walls,  a  man  is  seen  no  more 
till  he  is  fetched  out."  Then  he  fell  to  eying  the 
hand  of  Ben  Hesed,  fancying  that  he  again  saw 
there  a  gleam  of  something  yellow.  He  was  not 
mistaken ;  and  his  face  grew  proportionately  genial 
as  a  second  coin  joined  the  first  in  his  own  greedy 
palm. 

"  I  am  but  lately  arrived  in  Jerusalem,"  said  Ben 
Hesed,  "and  have  as  yet  not  witnessed  the  punish- 
ment of  any  of  these  apostates.  'Twere  a  goodly 
sight  to  see  a  blasphemer  suffer  ?  " 

"Ay,  a  goodly  sight.  I  have  seen  many.  Man, 
but  they  be  obstinate  !  Wouldst  thou  witness  a 
grand  spectacle,  then  be  without  the  Damascus 
Gate  to-morrow.  'Twill  be  in  the  very  place  where 
they  stoned  the  pestilent  Gentile,  Stephen." 

"They  will  stone  only  the  man,  I  suppose  ?"  said 
Ben  Hesed  with  apparent  unconcern. 

"They  will  scourge  all  four — forty  stripes  save 
one,"  and  the  fellow  smacked  his  lips  in  anticipa- 
tion. "  I  myself  am  to  handle  one  of  the  scourges, 
and  I  understand  the  business  as  none  other  in 
Jerusalem.  I  can  fetch  the  blood  every  time  ;  thou 
wilt  see."  And  he  winked  at  Ben  Hesed,  and  cau- 
tiously clinked  the  gold  pieces  with  the  air  of  a 
man  who  is  at  peace  with  himself  and  all  the  world. 


AT  THE  THIRD  HOUR.  337 

Ben  Hesed  could  with  difficulty  keep  his  hands 
from  the  throat  of  the  wretch. 

"After  the  scourging,  the  Sanhedrim  will  give 
them  one  more  chance  to  renounce  their  evil  be- 
liefs," continued  the  official,  "  a  mere  form,  for  they 
are  all  as  stubborn  as  the  father  of  lies  himself.  A 
few  stones  will  suffice  to  finish  them.  So  perish 
all  who  blaspheme  the  law!  " 

"I  shall  be  there,"  declared  Ben  Hesed.  "Ah, 
stay,  should  they  change  the  hour  and  place  bring 
me  word,  and  I  will  recompense  thee  with  as  much 
again  as  thou  hast  already  in  thy  hand.  I  am  not 
minded  to  lose  the  sight.  Thou  wilt  find  me  en- 
camped just  without  the  Damascus  Gate." 

"  I  will  bring  thee  word,  son  of  Abraham,  I  swear 
it  by  the  veil  of  the  Temple.  Peace  be  with  thee." 

An  hour  later  Ben  Hesed  held  a  council  of  war 
in  his  camp.  "We  cannot  take  the  prison,"  he 
said,  drawing  his  heavy  brows  together.  "  For 
they  would  straightway  rouse  the  Romans  at  the 
citadel,  which  is  but  a  stone's  throw  from  the  outer 
wall  of  the  place.  We  must  wait  till  they  fetch 
them  out  to-morrow,  and  may  the  Almighty  give 
us  the  wisdom  and  the  strength  which  we  need. 
Ay,  and  he  will  give  it,"  he  added,  his  eye  flashing 
fire.  "  It  is  ever  the  pleasure  of  Jehovah  to  show 
forth  his  power  by  the  hand  of  the  few,  even  as  by 
the  hand  of  Gideon  with  three  hundred  men  he  over- 


338  STEPHEN 

threw  the  hosts  of  the  Midianites  and  Amalekites, 
which  were  as  the  grasshoppers  for  multitude." 

Then  directed  he  the  twelve  men  who  were  with 
him  after  what  manner  they  should  do  on  the  mor- 
row, and  every  man  of  them  lay  down  and  slept. 
But  Ben  Hesed  slept  not  all  the  night,  for  he 
prayed  mightily  unto  God  that  he  would  deliver 
them  which  were  persecuted  out  of  the  hand  of  the 
destroyer ;  and  he  prayed  also  for  him  that  was 
wasting  the  church,  that  his  eyes  might  be  opened. 
At  the  coming  of  the  dawn  he  also  laid  down  for  a 
space,  for  he  said,  "  I  will  both  lay  me  down  in 
peace  and  sleep  ;  for  thou  Lord  only  makest  me  to 
dwell  in  safety.  The  Lord  will  save  the  afflicted 
people,  he  will  give  me  the  necks  of  his  enemies, 
for  God  is  a  God  of  great  deliverances." 

Very  early  the  people  began  to  pour  out  from  the 
Damascus  Gate,  that  they  might  secure  good  places 
for  the  seeing.  They  brought  with  them  food  and 
drink  also,  that  they  might  make  merry.  Ben 
Hesed  looked  at  them  and  he  waxed  exceeding 
angry. 

"  Behold ! "  he  said,  "  these  dwellers  in  the  holy 
city  are  come  out  as  to  a  holiday,  with  laughing 
and  feasting.  They  are  become  as  the  dwellers  in 
Sodom,  and  as  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  before 
the  flood,  for  they  delight  themselves  in  blood  and 
in  violence.  They  make  merry  and  eat  and  drink 


A  T  THE  THIRD  HOUR.  339 

to-day,  but  the  days  shall  come  wherein  they  shall 
mourn  and  cry  aloud,  and  their  tears  shall  be  their 
meat  day  and  night." 

As  the  third  hour  drew  nigh,  the  people  began 
to  crane  their  necks  toward  the  gate  through 
which  the  condemned  were  to  come  forth,  and  they 
grew  impatient  and  murmured  as  the  moments 
dragged  by. 

"  What  now  if  they  have  already  confessed  ? " 
said  one  woman.  "  We  shall  have  put  ourselves  to 
this  trouble  for  naught.  Nay,  but  I  believe  that  they 
have  confessed." 

"  Mayhap,"  said  her  neighbor,  "  but  I  shall  not 
give  up  the  matter  before  noon,  now  that  I  am 
here.  Verily,"  she  added  with  a  shrug,  "I  am 
glad  now  that  I  did  not  go  over  to  their  number ;  I 
came  near  it  once  when  the  man  Peter  preached  in 
our  street  that  their  Messiah  would  come  back  and 
that  right  speedily.  If  what  they  tell  about  the 
Nazarene  being  alive  were  true,  he  would  certainly 
come  in  these  days."  Then  they  fell  to  gossiping 
in  neighborly  fashion  about  their  husbands,  the 
linen  that  they  had  spun,  and  the  preparations  for 
the  approaching  feast  day,  stopping  suddenly  to 
listen  as  a  loud  and  ever  growing  murmur  of  sound 
arose  from  within  the  gates. 

"  They  are  coming  !  "  cried  the  multitude  as  with 
one  voice. 


340  STEPHEN 

"  They  are  coming !"  said  Ben  Hesed,  tighten- 
ing his  grasp  on  the  strong  bow  upon  which  he 
was  leaning.  The  little  band  of  fourteen  men  had 
established  themselves  on  a  rocky  eminence 
directly  above  the  spot  where  the  scourging  was  to 
take  place,  well  screened  from  observation  by  a 
tangle  of  low-growing  shrubs. 

The  procession,  headed  by  a  strong  detachment 
of  temple  guards,  soon  came  in  sight,  the  prisoners 
heavily  chained  walking  two  by  two.  Behind 
them  followed  a  number  of  Sanhedrists,  among 
whom  the  women  pointed  out  to  one  another  the 
famous  Saul  of  Tarsus,  as  second  only  in  interest 
to  the  condemned  prisoners. 

"They  do  say,"  whispered  one,  "that  he  enters 
without  ceremony  into  the  houses  wherein  dwell 
them  that  believe  on  the  Nazarene,  and  that  he 
drags  them  forth  to  prison  and  to  death  without 
mercy." 

"That  is  true,"  returned  her  neighbor.  "I 
chanced  to  be  in  the  house  of  Mary  when  he  came 
there — for  as  thou  knowest,  she  was  a  kind  soul, 
whatever  her  sins,  and  ready  always  to  lend  from 
her  store  for  the  convenience  of  them  that  lacked 
— indeed  one  might  say  as  much  of  them  all." 

"  And  how  didst  thou  escape  ? " 

"  I  simply  repeated  what  the  man  bade  me,  with- 
out ado ;  but  I  had  Irke  to  have  fainted.  How  I 


AT  THE  THIRD  HOUR.  341 

reached  my  home  afterward  I  scarce  know;  my  hus- 
band hath  forbidden  me  to  speak  with  any  of  them 
hereafter — though  God  knows  the  command  was 
needless.  But  see !  They  are  about  to  bind  them 
to  the  posts  for  the  scourging."  At  the  next 
breath  the  speaker  screamed  aloud  in  terror,  grasp- 
ing her  neighbor  by  the  arm.  A  swift  something 
had  smitten  the  man  who  was  advancing  to  lay 
hold  on  Mary  of  Nazareth,  and  with  a  wild  yell  of 
agony  he  leapt  high  into  the  air,  falling  stone  dead 
at  his  victim's  feet. 

Before  the  startled  multitude  had  time  to  recover 
themselves,  a  very  whirlwind  of  destruction,  sav- 
age, swift,  merciless,  had  swept  down  upon  them 
from  the  rocky  eminence  above  their  heads,  the 
wild  battle-cry  of  the  desert  sounding  in  their 
guilty  ears  like  the  trumpet  call  of  the  last  day. 
And  the  people  fled  from  before  it  in  a  frenzy  of 
mad  fear,  running,  stumbling,  falling,  the  strong 
trampling  the  weak  under  foot,  amid  a  wild  tumult 
of  shrieks,  curses  and  entreaties  to  God  to  spare 
them. 

The  temple  guard,  encouraged  by  the  ringing 
voice  of  Saul  of  Tarsus,  made  at  the  first  some  faint 
show  of  resistance,  then  they  too  turned  and  fled 
for  their  lives. 

"Cowards!"  shouted  Saul  angrily;  "there  are 
but  a  handful  of  them." 


342  STEPHEN 

But  his  voice  was  drowned  in  the  general  uproar. 
Seizing  a  spear  from  the  hand  of  one  of  the  flying 
guard,  he  flung  himself  into  the  thickest  of  the 
fight,  striking  out  right  and  left  in  a  sort  of  blind 
fury.  Then  something  struck  him  full  in  the  fore- 
head, a  wave  as  of  fire  flashed  before  his  eyes,  the 
spear  dropped  from  his  nerveless  fingers,  and  he 
fell — down — down  into  darkness  and  silence. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

ON   THE   ROAD   TO   DAMASCUS. 

NEIGHBOR,  dost  think  it  is  safe  for  us  to 
come  down  ?  Verily,  for  myself,  I  shall 
take  the  risk,  if  risk  there  be,  for  my  limbs  are  as 
stiff  as  those  of  yonder  dead  man." 

By  way  of  answer,  the  other  man  shook  a  warn- 
ing finger  at  the  speaker,  and  proceeded  to  clamber 
up  still  further  into  the  branches  of  the  tree  in 
which  these  two  spectators  of  the  stirring  scene 
which  had  just  transpired  were  hidden.  "  Wait  a 
little,"  he  whispered,  "till  I  shall  make  sure  that 
the  fellows  have  gone.  By  the  thunderbolts  of 
Jove  !  "  he  exclaimed  with  a  laugh,  as  he  presently 
descended  to  a  level  with  his  companion,  "that  was 
a  greater  sight  than  the  stoning  which  we  came 
out  to  see ;  I  would  not  have  missed  it — no,  not 
for  ten  shekels  of  silver ! " 

"  Have  they  gone  ? "  said  the  first  querulously. 

(343) 


344  STEPHEN 

"  I  tell  thee  that  my  limbs  have  lost  all  feeling,  so 
long  have  I  sat  here  without  moving." 

"  Thou  mayest  thank  the  gods  that  thou  art  alive 
to  complain,  friend.  But  come  down,  come  down  ; 
there  is  naught  to  hurt  thee  now,  and  we  must  look 
to  these  dead  men." 

"  Who  were  the  rescuers,  thinkest  thou  ? " 

"Nay,  I  know  not.  There  were  thirteen  of 
them,  for  I  counted ;  verily,  I  believe  that  the 
multitude  thought  them  the  twelve  apostles  headed 
by  the  Nazarene  himself."  And  the  speaker 
threw  back  his  head  and  laughed  again. 

"Nay,  there  were  fourteen,"  said  the  other, 
with  an  obstinate  shake  of  the  head.  "I  also 
counted,  and  I  never  make  a  mistake.  They  were 
wild  men  out  of  the  desert,  I  opine,"  he  added 
sagely.  "  I  have  seen  the  like  many  times  when 
crossing  to  Egypt,  for  I  have  traveled  in  my  day." 
Then  he  looked  anxiously  about  him.  "  There  is 
no  one  dead  here  save  the  man  yonder,"  he  said, 
"and  he  was  smitten  at  the  first.  We  had  best 
make  haste  and  return  to  the  city;  this  affair  is 
nothing  to  us." 

"Hold,  dost  thou  not  see  a  body  yonder  in  the 
shadow  of  the  bush  ?  By  the  rod  of  Moses,  I  think 
I  saw  him  move ;  let  us  look  to  it." 

"  We  had  best  leave  the  whole  matter  alone,  I 
tell  thee,"  insisted  his  companion  with  irritation. 


ON  THE  ROAD  TO  DAMASCUS.  345 

"  Thanks  be  to  Jehovah,  I  have  had  nothing  to  do 
with  it  so  far — save  to  look  on  ;  and  I  tell  thee 
that  I  will  not  lay  a  finger  to  yonder  body,  be  it 
dead  or  alive.  Come,  I  am  going  to  the  city." 
And  without  stopping  for  further  parley,  the 
speaker  began  to  run  toward  the  city  gate,  appar- 
ently not  hearing  the  loud  cries  to  stop  which  his 
companion  sent  after  him. 

"  Coward !  "  muttered  the  one  who  was  left ;  then 
he  walked  over  to  the  body,  which  lay  face  down- 
ward in  the  shadow  of  the  bushes,  and  deliberately 
turned  it  over,  starting  back  with  a  cry  of  surprise 
as  the  identity  of  the  unconscious  man  became 
apparent. 

"  Tis  Saul  of  Tarsus !  So  the  wolf  is  himself 
bitten  for  once ;  but  not  unto  death,  I  am  think- 
ing." He  sprinkled  the  face  of  the  wounded  man 
with  water,  and  forced  a  little  wine  between  his 
clenched  teeth.  "  Only  a  bruise,"  he  continued 
reflectively,  as  he  examined  the  body  with  care. 
"  I  suspect  that  the  Nazarenes  would  thank  me 
should  I  thrust  him  through  as  he  lies.  He  is  a 
hard  man — a  hard  man.  Yet  that  is  nothing  to  me. 
Ha !  he  is  reviving  already.  Another  sip  of  the 
wine,  friend  ;  thou  hadst  a  sharp  blow,  and  it  hath 
confused  thy  senses  somewhat ;  but  thou  wilt 
shortly " 

"  Did  the  blasphemers  escape  me  ?  "  said  Saul  in 


346  STEPHEN 

a  hollow  voice,  sitting  up  and  looking  about  him 
Then  his  eye  fell  upon  the  four  empty  posts 
which  had  been  set  up  for  the  scourging,  and  he 
groaned  aloud. 

"Be  thankful  rather  that  thou  hast  thyself  es- 
caped with  so  slight  an  injury,"  said  the  man  who 
still  stood  at  his  side,  flask  in  hand.  "Another 
sup  of " 

"Hold  thy  peace,  fellow,"  said  Saul  savagely, 
springing  to  his  feet.  "  The  cowardly  knaves  ! — 
to  flee  from  their  duty  before  a  dozen  peasants,— 
where  are  they  ?  Which  way  did  they  go  ? "  And 
he  fixed  his  angry  eyes  on  his  rescuer,  who  was 
calmly  girding  himself. 

"  Thou  hast  bidden  me  hold  my  peace,  Pharisee ; 
and  I  am  not  the  man  to  be  bidden  twice.  Fare- 
well, and  a  good  recovery  to  thee."  And  the  man 
turned  resolutely  away. 

"Stay,  friend.  I  should  not  have  spoken  thus 
to  one  who  had  done  me  a  kindness,"  said  Saul. 
"Grant  me  thy  pardon,  and  tell  me,  I  beseech 
thee,  what  thou  canst  of  this  affair — if  thou  wast 
witness  to  it.  God  knows  that  it  was  untimely  ; 
another  hour  might  have  seen  four  penitent  ones 
restored  to  the  fold  of  Israel." 

"Thinkest  thou  so,  Pharisee?"  said  the  other 
carelessly.  "Now  for  myself  I  think  otherwise. 
Another  hour  would  have  seen  four  corpses 


ON  THE  ROAD  TO  DAMASCUS.  347 

yonder,  where  now  we  see  but  one.  The  affair 
was  timely  enough  for  the  Nazarenes." 

"  Thy  name,  man  ? " 

"My  name,  Pharisee,  is  Festus  ;  I  am  a  free- 
born  Roman,  resident  of  Jerusalem  yonder  for 
a  score  of  years  back,  but  answerable  to  no  man 
for  my  beliefs  or  practices.  If  it  pleaseth  me  to 
believe  on  a  crucified  man  instead  of  on  Jove  or 
Jehovah,  thou  canst  neither  scourge  nor  stone  me 
for  it.  And  now,  most  courteous  rabbi,  let  me 
advise  thee  to  return  with  all  haste  into  Jerusalem, 
and  in  future  to  moderate  thy  zeal,  lest  thou  come 
to  an  untimely  end."  With  which  bit  of  advice, 
received  by  Saul  in  contemptuous  silence,  the  man 
strode  away  toward  Jerusalem. 

Left  to  himself  the  baffled  Pharisee  examined 
the  ground  carefully,  pausing  at  length  to  question 
several  peasants  who  had  left  their  work  in  the 
neighboring  fields  to  gather  at  the  scene  of  the 
disaster. 

"Didst  thou  see  which  way  the  knaves  fled  ?"  he 
asked  of  one. 

The  man  looked  at  him  stupidly.  "They  be  fled 
along  the  road  yonder,"  he  said,  pointing  with  his 
finger  to  the  highway. 

"Which  way,  north  or  south  ?" 

"They  went  that  way,  master,"  said  the  peasant, 
pointing  toward  the  north,  which  was  indeed  the 


348  STEPHEN 

opposite  direction  from  that  which  Ben  Hesed  and 
his  company  had  taken. 

"He  asked  me  which  way  the  knaves  were  fled," 
said  the  man  to  his  companions,  as  they  stood 
staring  after  the  departing  figure  of  Saul.  "  As- 
suredly the  knaves  who  came  out  to  look  upon  the 
death  of  the  just  went  that  way,  since  it  took  them 
back  to  Jerusalem.  As  for  the  Nazarenes  and 
those  that  saved  them  this  day,  God  be  with  them, 
I  did  not  look  to  see  which  way  they  fled.  Jehovah 
grant  them  a  swift  journey  and  a  safe  abiding-place 
from  the  hand  of  that  pestilent  Pharisee." 

"Thou  hast  spoken!"  cried  the  others  with  an 
air  of  enjoyment,  after  which  they  went  peacefully 
back  to  their  labors. 

In  the  meantime  Saul  was  hastening  back  to 
Jerusalem  with  rage  in  his  heart ;  bruised,  baffled, 
humiliated  as  he  was,  he  lost  no  time  in  seeking 
Annas  that  he  might  acquaint  him  with  the  un- 
toward occurrence  of  the  morning. 

"I  will  pursue  them,"  he  said,  "even  unto 
strange  cities.  Within  this  hour  will  I  set  forth." 

Annas  looked  thoughtful.  "Thou  sayest,"  he 
said,  "that  they  be  fled  towards  the  north.  It 
hath  come  to  my  ears  of  late  that  there  be  many 
of  these  accursed  apostates  who  have  taken  refuge 
in  Damascus.  So  that  there  is  now  a  goodly  com- 
pany of  them  dwelling  in  fancied  security  in  that 


ON  THE  ROAD  TO  DAMASCUS.  349 

city,  waxing  fat  and  flourishing,  as  doth  this  pesti- 
lent weed  of  evil  wherever  it  taketh  root.  The 
men  who  have  this  day  interfered  with  the  just 
sentence  of  the  law,  have  doubtless  accomplished 
the  mischief  through  the  connivance  of  some  per- 
son who  hath  played  traitor  to  the  cause,  and  are 
now  fled  to  Damascus,  thinking  to  find  there  a 
refuge  from  the  wrath  of  Israel." 

"Who  is  the  traitor?" 

Annas  hesitated  for  an  instant.  "  There  be  foes 
among  them  of  a  man's  own  household  in  these 
days,"  he  said  in  a  half  whisper.  "Caiaphas  hath 
disappeared,  I  know  not  whither;  but  I  fear — I 
fear." 

"  Damascus  is  under  Aretas,  Emir  of  Petra,  now," 
said  Saul  after  a  pause.  "With  him  thy  house 
hath  friendly  relations.  Give  me  therefore  letters 
that  I  may  carry  fire  and  the  sword  into  the  camp 
of  Jehovah's  enemies.  I  will  not  let  so  much  as 
one  of  them  escape  me,"  and  he  ground  his  teeth 
savagely.  "  I  will  fetch  them  chained  to  Jerusalem, 
that  they  may  perish  in  sight  of  the  walls  which 
they  have  dishonored." 

"Thou  hast  spoken  wisely  and  well,  my  son.  I 
will  procure  the  letters  for  thee  at  once,  so  that 
thou  mayest  start  without  delay.  As  for  matters  in 
this  city,  there  shall  be  no  sparing  of  pains  nor 
effort  to  carry  on  to  its  completion  the  good  work 


350  STEPHEN 

which  we  have  begun.  Jehovah  hath  prospered  us 
mightily  so  far.  We  hear  of  no  more  blasphemous 
gatherings  in  Solomon's  Porch ;  no  more  preach- 
ing of  a  false  Messiah  in  the  synagogues  ;  no  more 
healing  of  vile  beggars  in  the  name  of  the  accursed 
one ;  no  further  prating  about  apostles  or  disciples. 
Men  walk  soberly  in  these  days  as  they  have  not 
since  the  days  of  the  malefactor.  Let  us  continue 
in  this  good  cause,  my  son,  and  we  shall  have 
triumphed  gloriously.  This  disgraceful  heresy, 
which  is  even  as  a  spot  of  foul  leprosy  on  the  fair 
body  of  Israel,  shall  be  utterly  purged  away.  Then 
indeed  may  we  hope  once  more  for  the  coming  of 
the  Anointed  One." 

The  eyes  of  the  young  man  flashed  fire.  "Amen 
and  Amen !"  he  cried.  "  May  Jehovah  hasten  the 
day !"  But  his  brow  was  gloomy  and  forbidding 
as  ever,  when  an  hour  later  he  had  finished  the 
visitation  of  the  prisons  wherein  groaned  many 
that  believed. 

"  Neither  scourgings,  threat enings,  revilings,  nor 
torture  of  any  degree  hath  the  power  to  move  these 
Nazarenes,"  declared  the  chief -jailers ;  "and  the 
women  yield  no  whit  easier  than  the  men." 

"A  spot  of  leprosy  indeed,"  muttered  Saul  to 
himself,  "  it  hath  by  stealth  crept  into  the  very 
life-blood  of  the  nation  ;  and  how  hardly  shall  the 
deadly  leprosy  be  cleansed." 


ON  THE  ROAD  TO  DAMASCUS.  351 

Another  hour  and  he  was  in  the  saddle  pressing 
forward  with  all  haste  towards  Damascus,  for  he 
hoped  to  overtake  the  fugitives  before  night.  With 
him  traveled  a  well-armed  escort  of  tried  and  ex- 
perienced men,  to  whom  had  been  promised  large 
rewards  should  the  mission  be  successful.  The 
journey  to  Damascus  was  a  long  one,  the  roads 
were  rough  and  ill-made  moreover,  so  that  progress 
was  necessarily  slow.  Hasten  as  he  might,  Saul 
could  not  hope  to  reach  Damascus  before  the  bet- 
ter part  of  a  week.  As  for  them  that  had  escaped, 
it  was  impossible  for  him  to  decide  whether  or 
not  they  were  still  before  him.  Now  and  again  he 
heard  from  the  khans  along  his  route,  of  a  troop  of 
horsemen  with  whom  were  traveling  also  women, 
but  when  on  the  third  day  he  actually  overtook 
such  a  company  of  wayfarers  it  turned  out  to  be 
merely  a  caravan  of  wine  merchants,  traveling  with 
their  wives  and  little  ones. 

"  I  will  at  all  events  press  on  to  Damascus,"  he 
decided,  "  for  even  should  I  not  immediately  lay 
hand  upon  the  ones  I  seek,  there  are  in  that  city 
other  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel  which  I 
must  needs  bring  back  into  the  fold." 

On  this  journey  for  the  first  time  in  many 
months  Saul  found  time  to  think.  Habitually 
taciturn  and  forbidding,  his  subordinates  did  not 
venture  to  address  the  haughty  Pharisee  save  when 


352  STEPHEN 

it  became  necessary ;  so  for  long  hours  the  man 
sat  silent,  while  his  beast  picked  its  slow  and  diffi- 
cult way  along  the  rocky  roads. 

Strangely  enough  his  thoughts  wandered  again 
and  again  from  the  object  of  his  journey ;  in  these 
vernal  solitudes  the  wily  words  of  Annas  faded 
from  his  mind.  Something  in  the  pure-eyed 
flowers  that  leaned  in  shy  welcome  from  the  road- 
side grass  put  him  in  mind  of  Stephen,  the  dead 
apostate,  as  he  bitterly  termed  him.  Before  his 
mental  vision  there  arose  again  that  never-to-be- 
forgotten  face ;  now  radiant  with  the  fire  of  youth 
and  enthusiasm,  as  he  remembered  it  in  many  a 
heated  debate  over  law  and  prophecy ;  now  stern 
and  unrelenting  as  he  pronounced  the  terrible 
arraignment  which  yet  echoed  in  the  ears  of  the 
Pharisee  :  "  Ye  stiff-necked  and  uncircumcised  in 
heart  and  ears ;  ye  do  always  resist  the  Holy 
Ghost ;  as  your  fathers  did,  so  do  ye.  Which  of  the 
prophets  have  not  your  fathers  persecuted  ?  And 
they  have  slain  them  which  shewed  before  the 
coming  of  the  Just  One ;  of  whom  ye  have  now 
become  the  betrayers  and  murderers ! "  Then 
pallid  beneath  the  icy  shadow  of  approaching 
death,  yet  shining  with  a  mysterious  glory  as  he 
cried  out,  "  Behold,  I  see  the  heavens  opened,  and 
the  Son  of  Man  standing  on  the  right  hand  of 
power."  And  yet  again,  touched  with  the  mystic 


ON  THE  ROAD  TO  DAMASCUS,  353 

seal  of  the  great  deliverer  as  he  had  lain  "asleep" 
on  the  stony  ground  beyond  the  Damascus  Gate. 

In  vain  did  he  endeavor  to  shake  off  these  haunt- 
ing visions,  resolutely  repeating  aloud  commands, 
prohibitions  and  long  passages  of  the  law,  rigor- 
ously observing  the  ceremonial  washings  and 
cleansings  whenever  the  company  halted  beside  a 
running  stream.  All  was  in  vain,  "Ye  who  re- 
ceived the  law  as  it  was  ordained  by  angels,  and 
kept  it  not !  "  sounded  the  inexorable  voice.  And 
with  and  through  it,  mingled  the  wail  of  women 
bereft  of  their  little  ones,  the  groanings  of  strong 
men  beneath  the  scourge,  the  sullen  clang  of  prison 
doors,  and  the  clank  of  chains. 

On  the  fifth  night  of  his  journey  the  agony  be- 
came so  intolerable  that  he  left  his  tent  and  wan- 
dered out  beneath  the  open  heavens.  "  My  God  ! " 
he  groaned  aloud,  "  have  I  not  kept  thy  law,  and 
loved  thy  statutes  ?  Yet  have  I  no  peace :  my 
days  are  consumed  with  anguish.  Surely  thou 
hast  hated  iniquity  and  thou  hast  loved  righteous- 
ness ;  behold  now  I  have  done  all  these  things  that 
thy  name  might  be  exalted  before  the  people,  that 
blasphemy  and  deceit  might  cease  from  out  the 
land."  And  he  vowed  a  great  sacrifice  before  the 
Lord  of  fat  sheep  and  oxen.  But  again  came  the 
haunting  voice,  "  O  ye  house  of  Israel,  have  ye 
offered  to  me  slain  beasts  and  sacrifices  for  the 

23 


354  STEPHEN 

space  of  forty  years.  But  behold,  I  will  carry  you 
away  beyond  Babylon — who  have  received  the  law 
ordained  of  angels  and  have  kept  it  not." 

"  I  have  kept  the  law ! "  he  cried  aloud,  and  the 
hills  replied  in  melancholy  echoes,  "  the  law — the 
law." 

Then  there  crowded  into  his  thought  the  faces 
of  the  four  who  had  escaped  out  of  his  hand,  and 
he  remembered  the  look  in  the  eyes  of  the  maiden 
as  she  said,  "  I  believe  that  he  was  put  to  death 
upon  the  cross  that  he  might  draw  all  men  unto 
him  and  heal  them  from  their  sins,  even  as  Moses 
lifted  up  the  serpent  in  the  wilderness  that  the 
stricken  Israelites  might  look  and  be  saved,"  and 
with  these  words  there  mingled  the  solemn  voices 
of  prophecy,  "Surely  he  hath  borne  our  griefs 
and  carried  our  sorrows ;  yet  we  did  esteem  him 
stricken,  smitten  of  God,  and  afflicted.  But  he 
was  wounded  for  our  transgressions,  he  was  bruised 
for  our  iniquities ;  the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was 
upon  him ;  and  with  his  stripes  we  are  healed.  All 
we  like  sheep  have  gone  astray ;  we  have  turned 
every  one  to  his  own  way ;  and  the  Lord  hath  laid 
upon  him  the  iniquity  of  us  all." 

"God,  if  it  be  true,"  he  murmured;  and  for  a 
moment  the  soft  radiance  of  that  ever  brooding 
presence  of  love  had  well  nigh  penetrated  his  dark 
soul,  then  he  lifted  his  head  stubbornly.  "  I  can- 


ON  THE  ROAD  TO  DAMASCUS.  355 

not  believe,"  he  cried.  "  I  will  not  believe. — Shall 
I,  a  Pharisee  of  the  Pharisees,  accept  a  Messiah 
who  hath  died  the  accursed  death  ?  I  am  mad.  I 
will  not  believe — unless  I  too  can  see  the  heavens 
opened." 

He  laughed  aloud  as  he  spoke  the  words,  and 
the  sound  of  his  laughter  fled  away  through  the 
silent  night  to  the  dark  hills  which  caught  it  and 
tossed  it  back  upon  him  in  mocking  echoes. 

On  the  morrow  they  journeyed  in  the  plains  of 
Anti-libanus,  a  vast  arid  burning  desert,  wherein 
was  neither  water  nor  verdure,  and  the  men  and 
the  beasts  were  parched  by  reason  of  the  great 
heat.  Certain  ones  of  the  company  therefore  be- 
sought Saul  that  they  might  tarry  by  the  way.  "  Let 
us  rest  till  the  heat  of  the  day  be  past,"  they  said, 
"  then  shall  we  with  ease  reach  the  village  of  Kau- 
kab ;  there  will  we  abide  till  morning,  that  we  may 
enter  Damascus  before  the  hour  of  the  great  heat." 

"  We  will  not  tarry,"  replied  Saul,  "  until  we 
reach  Damascus."  And  there  was  that  in  his  eye 
which  forbade  remonstrance.  So  they  toiled  on 
silently  beneath  the  burning  Syrian  sky.  The  vil- 
lage of  Kaukab — which  is  being  interpreted  the 
village  of  the  Star — was  reached,  and  passed  ;  and 
now  before  them  lay  the  city  of  Damascus  in  all  its 
beauty.  "  The  City  of  the  Paradise  of  God,"  for 
so  has  it  been  called  in  every  age,  embowered  in 


356  STEPHEN 

gardens  of  palm  and  roses,  its  walls  and  towers  of 
snowy  whiteness  shining  like  "  a  handful  of  pearls 
in  a  goblet  of  emerald."  A  land  of  flowing  streams, 
a  city  of  cool  fountains,  set  like  a  bit  of  heaven  in 
the  midst  of  a  barren  and  thirsty  land. 

The  exhausted  wayfarers  paused  for  a  moment 
that  they  might  feast  their  eyes  upon  the  beauty 
of  the  scene,  but  Saul,  with  an  imperative  gesture, 
bade  them  hasten. 

"We  are  not  come  to  Damascus  as  one  who 
journeyeth  for  his  pleasure,"  he  cried  savagely ; 
"  we  seek  the  blood  of  them  that  confess  the  ac- 
cursed Jesus." 

But  even  as  he  spoke  the  sacred  name,  some 
invisible  power  smote  him  to  the  earth  ;  and  a  great 
light,  brighter  even  than  the  fierce  shining  of  the 
noonday  sun,  blazed  round  about  him.  In  the 
midst  of  this  terrible  light  he  beheld  a  form  upon 
which  he  gazed  appalled  ;  then  was  there  the  sound 
of  a  voice,  and  the  words  were  these  : 

"  Saul,  Saul,  why  persecutes!  thou  me  ? " 

True  to  the  utter  fearlessness  of  his  soul,  the 
man  also  has  a  question  to  ask,  "  Who  art  thou, 
Lord  ?" 

And  the  answer  came  clear  and  decisive,  "  I  am 
Jesus  whom  thou  persecutes! ;  it  is  hard  for  thee 
to  kick  against  the  pricks." 

Then  indeed  did  the  strong  man  tremble,  and  he 


ON  THE  ROAD  TO  DAMASCUS.  357 

made  answer  from  out  the  depths  of  his  soul, 
"  Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ?" 

"  Arise,  go  into  the  city,  and  it  shall  be  told  thee 
what  thou  must  do." 

The  majestic  presence  was  gone  ;  the  light  faded 
to  the  light  of  an  earthly  noontide.  Yet  Saul  still 
lay  upon  his  face  in  the  dust  of  the  Damascus  road. 
The  men  that  journeyed  with  him  stood  speechless, 
staring  at  one  another  with  livid  faces.  They  had 
seen  the  blazing  light,  they  had  heard  the  strange 
and  awful  sound  of  a  voice,  but  their  eyes  had  been 
holden  to  the  vision  of  the  glorified  Jesus. 

Presently  Saul  arose  from  the  earth,  the  first 
command  of  his  newly-acknowledged  Lord  ring- 
ing in  his  ears,  "Arise,  go  into  the  city."  But 
when  he  opened  his  eyes  that  he  might  obey  the 
words,  he  opened  them  upon  darkness.  He  was 
blind. 

And  they  led  him  by  the  hand  and  brought  him 
into  Damascus. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

THE   AMULET. 

IT  was  high  noon  in  the  desert  encampment. 
The  shadows  of  the  palms,  which  had  boldly 
displayed  themselves  in  the  early  cool  of  the  morn- 
ing, had  gradually  retreated  before  the  triumphant 
progress  of  the  sun,  till  now  they  lay  a  shrunken 
heap  about  the  slender  stems  of  the  trees,  which 
in  their  turn  scarcely  dared  murmur  to  their  chil- 
dren of  the  coming  hours,  when  the  burning  tyrant 
overhead  should  again  be  brought  low  and  the 
shadows  reign  triumphant.  Through  the  shimmer- 
ing air  came  the  insistent  voice  of  dropping  water, 
telling  over  and  over  again  of  great  depths  of  re- 
freshing hid  away  in  the  secret  places  of  the  rock, 
safe  from  the  thirsty  ball  of  fire  above,  safe  from 
the  hungry  sands  which  crept  uneasily  to  and  fro 
about  the  rocky  margin  of  the  fountain. 
The  camels  crouched  in  the  meagre  shade,  their 
(358) 


THE  AMULET.  359 

large,  heavy-lidded  eyes  half  closed ;  they  heard 
and  understood  both  the  faint  murmur  of  the  palms 
and  the  voice  of  the  water ;  therefore  were  they 
silent,  being  satisfied.  But  from  within  the  tent 
of  goat's  hair  close  at  hand  there  came  the  sound 
of  voices.  "  These  men,"  grunted  an  old  camel, 
"  they  be  forever  making  a  noise  with  their  mouths ; 
why  cannot  they  be  silent,  and  look  and  listen  as 
do  we  ? " 

This  is  what  the  voices  were  saying  : 
"  God  is  good,  my  husband,  and  as  yet  I  have 
scarce  had  room  in  my  soul  for  more  than  the 
sense  of  that  goodness  which  hath  snatched  me 
from  the  jaws  of  death,  and  with  life  hath  also 
restored  to  me  the  more  precious  treasure  of  thy 
love.  Tell  me  how  it  chanced  that  thou  hadst  a 
hand  in  our  rescue  ?  " 

"  It  is  not  unknown  to  thee,  beloved,  how  that 
for  many  months  my  soul  was  a  very  hell  of  fear 
and  remorse.  I  was  blood-guilty ;  I  knew  that 
upon  my  head  rested  the  blood  of  an  innocent 
man  ;  nay  more,  I  knew  in  my  inmost  soul  that  my 
crime  was  yet  more  deadly — that  I,  even  I,  had 
condemned  to  an  accursed  death  the  very  Son  of 
God.  Yes,  I  believed  ;  but  alas,  it  was  even  as  the 
devils,  who  believe  and  tremble  and  yet — are  devils 
still.  I  cast  thee  forth  because  thou  didst  also 
believe,  I,  black-hearted  wretch  that  I  was,  did 


360  STEPHEN 

pronounce  upon  thee  a  curse,  then  my  angel  fled 
and  the  curse  recoiled  upon  mine  own  head.  I  will 
not  tell  thee — I  cannot — how  I  tried  to  strangle 
the  ever-growing  misery  in  my  soul ;  how  I  flung 
myself,  heart  and  strength,  into  the  deadly  perse- 
cutions against  them  that  believed ;  all  the  while 
with  the  mean  hope  that  the  fire  would  drive  thee 
back  from  the  heavenly  path  which  thou  wast 
climbing  into  the  black  road  down  which  I  was 
plunging  alone.  I  saw  and  gloried  in  the  death  of 
Stephen  ;  I  gloated  over  the  agonies  of  them  that 
suffered  beneath  the  scourge ;  I  outdid  Saul  of 
Tarsus  in  the  work  of  denouncing  men  and  women 
whose  only  crime  it  was  to  believe  on  God  mani- 
fest in  the  flesh.  There  is  a  hell,  for  I  have  so- 
journed there. 

"  One  day  I  was  told  that  thou  wast  in  prison ; 
that  on  the  morrow  thou  wouldst  be  scourged — 
stoned.  Issachar  himself  told  me,  with  an  air  of 
mock  sympathy. 

" '  She  is  less  to  me,'  I  declared  to  him  coldly, 
'than  the  stones  beneath  my  feet.'  But  I  lied 
when  I  said  it.  That  night  I  begged  Annas  on 
my  knees  to  have  mercy. 

" '  I  will  have  mercy,'  he  said.  '  I  will  send  a 
message  to  the  woman  within  the  hour,'  and  he 
called  Caleb.  I  waylaid  the  man,  and  offered  him 
gold  to  show  me  the  message  ;  he  showed  it  me. 


THE  AMULET.  361 

"That  night  I  went  to  my  chamber  resolved  to 
die  before  the  light  of  another  day,  but  each  time 
that  I  lifted  the  dagger  to  my  breast  something 
seemed  to  hold  my  hand.  At  last  I  flung  it  from 
me  and  sank  upon  my  knees,  crying  aloud,  '  God 
be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner !  God  be  merciful  to 
me  a  sinner ! '  Again  and  again  I  repeated  the 
words  till  at  last  there  came  into  my  soul  a  great 
peace.  God  was  merciful — I  knew,  I  felt  it ;  and 
then  and  there  I  made  confession  of  all  my  guilt 
before  him.  '  I  am  guilty  of  the  blood  of  him 
whom  thou  didst  send  to  save  me,'  I  cried,  'yet  he 
prayed  in  his  last  agony,  saying,  Father,  forgive 
them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do.' 

"  I  rose  up  forgiven,  and  the  morning  dawned. 
'  I  will  go,'  I  said,  '  to  the  place  where  she  is  to 
suffer,  and  there  before  them  all  I  will  make  con- 
fession of  my  guilt  and  my  belief ;  then  shall  I  die 
also.' 

"  But  when  I  had  come  to  the  place  outside  the 
Damascus  Gate — very  early,  for  I  could  not  wait — 
I  fell  in  with  the  man  Ben  Hesed,  and  because  my 
soul  was  full  even  to  overflowing,  I  told  him  all. 
'  I  will  die,'  I  said,  'with  them.' 

"  '  Nay,'  he  cried,  '  rather  must  thou  live,  that 
thou  mayest  overlay  the  wickedness  of  the  past 
with  the  pure  gold  of  righteousness.' 

"  Thou  knowest  the  rest,  beloved." 


362  STEPHEN 

Then  the  voices  ceased  for  a  space,  and  the 
sound  of  the  falling  water  again  filled  the  stillness. 

That  evening  when  the  shadows  were  displaying 
themselves  once  more  in  triumph,  and  the  voice  of 
the  fountain  had  sunken  to  a  low  murmur  because 
of  the  more  insistent  voices  of  the  women  who 
were  filling  their  jars  at  its  cool  brim,  Ben  Hesed 
held  converse  with  them  whom  he  had  snatched 
from  death.  Their  talk  was  sweet  and  comforting, 
as  of  those  whose  feet  had  trod  the  margin  of  the 
river  of  death,  from  whose  hither  bank  the  traveler 
can  hear  faint  echoes  of  the  heavenly  melodies  of 
the  redeemed,  and  where  every  breeze  wafts  the 
perfume  of  the  blossoming  tree  of  life. 

"  It  is  good  to  have  been  near  death/'  said  Mary 
of  Nazareth,  "  because  it  is  good  to  have  touched 
the  boundary  of  the  life  more  abundant.  There 
is  no  terror  to  them  that  believe  on  him  that 
hath  conquered  death;  'he  that  believeth  hath 
everlasting  life.'  ' 

Afterward,  while  the  day  merged  slowly  into  the 
night,  they  told  Ben  Hesed  of  all  that  happened 
to  them  since  he  had  left  them  in  Jerusalem  ;  of 
the  last  days  of  Stephen,  of  his  death  and  burial ; 
of  that  stern  enemy,  Saul  of  Tarsus,  and  his  unre- 
lenting hatred  of  them  that  believed. 

"  Nay,"  said  Anat,  after  a  pause,  "  I  know  that 
he  would  have  rejoiced  truly  had  we  but  confessed 


THE  AMULET.  363 

as  he  bade  us ;  there  was  a  look  in  his  eyes  that 
was  not  all  hatred  ;  perchance  God  is  leading  him 
into  peace  by  some  sure  way  of  his  own,  even  as  he 
led  the  Egyptian,  Amu.  Surely,  God's  ways  are 
unsearchable." 

"  That  is  a  true  word,"  said  Ben  Hesed  musingly. 
"But tell  me  of  the  Egyptian,  Amu." 

So  Anat  told  him  how  that  he  had  rescued 
Stephen  from  death  by  the  sacrifice  of  his  life, 
together  with  all  the  story  of  their  own  wrong  at 
his  hands.  "  I  would  that  God  had  given  him  one 
more  breath,"  said  the  girl  sighing,  "for  then 
would  he  have  told  us  the  name  of  our  mother's 
kindred." 

Ben  Hesed  looked  at  the  clear  profile  of  the  girl 
as  she  sat  looking  away  into  the  afterglow  which 
still  burned  dully  at  the  horizon,  and  a  haunting 
memory  of  the  past  suddenly  awakened  in  his 
breast.  "  Hast  thou  aught  that  belonged  to  thy 
mother,  maiden  ?"  he  said,  and  there  was  a  strange 
thrill  in  his  voice. 

"  I  had  anklets  of  wrought  silver  when  I  came 
out  of  Egypt,"  said  Anat  slowly,  without  turning 
her  head ;  "  also  a  necklace  of  coins ;  but  when  I 
was  healed  of  my  blindness  I  made  an  offering  of 
these  baubles  to  the  Lord's  poor.  It  was  all  that 
I  had  to  give."  Then  she  was  silent  for  a  moment. 
"  I  kept  but  one  piece  from  the  necklace ;  I 


364  STEPHEN 

thought  that  I  should  like  that  one  small  bit  of 
my  mother's  past.  It  is  a  strange  coin." 

"Show  it  to  me,"  said  Ben  Hesed. 

Without  a  word  Anat  took  from  off  her  neck  the 
slender  chain  of  wrought  silver,  from  which  hung 
the  one  token  that  bound  her  to  an  unknown  past. 

Ben  Hesed  took  it,  his  iron  fingers  trembling 
like  those  of  a  woman.  In  that  simple  amulet  lay 
a  strange  power,  for  no  sooner  had  he  examined  it 
in  the  fading  light,  than  all  else  before  his  bodily 
eyes  vanished.  It  was  a  bright  morning  now,  and 
the  sun  was  shining  merrily  on  a  caravan  of 
strangers  out  of  Egypt.  He  was  trading  with  them, 
horses  and  sheep  and  cheeses  of  goat's  milk,  re- 
ceiving in  exchange  bales  of  cloth  and  divers 
weapons  of  war,  together  with  utensils  of  wrought 
brass  and  jars  of  pottery. 

"Give  me  also  the  horse,"  said  the  chief  mer- 
chant, pointing  to  the  animal  which  Ben  Hesed 
himself  bestrode.  "  I  will  give  thee  for  it  a  bale  of 
scarlet  and  another  of  fine  linen  for  thy  women." 

"  Women  of  the  desert  do  not  wear  scarlet  nor 
fine  linen,"  he  answered.  "  Dekar  is  the  prince  of 
all  the  herd  ;  I  will  not  sell." 

"Nay  then,  I  will  give  thee  gold— fifty  pieces," 
persisted  the  merchant. 

"Give  me  an  hundred,"  he  had  said,  "and  the 
beast  is  thine." 


THE  AMULET.  365 

So  the  merchant  gave  him  an  hundred  pieces  of 
gold  for  the  horse — which  was  truly  a  great  price, 
but  he  paid  it  without  murmuring  for  he  knew  that 
he  could  again  sell  for  a  greater  to  the  king  of 
Egypt. 

Of  the  gold  pieces  there  was  one  of  strange 
device,  and  this  Ben  Hesed  gave  to  his  eldest-born, 
that  she  might  hang  it  upon  her  necklace.  The 
maid  was  beautiful  to  look  upon,  and  Ben  Hesed 
felt  for  her  a  great  tenderness,  which  was  a  thing 
quite  by  itself  and  apart  from  the  pride  which 
filled  his  breast  when  he  looked  upon  his  mighty 
sons.  The  name  of  this  maid  was  Zarah,  which 
signifies  the  Dawn ;  and  truly  she  was  fair  and 
pure  as  the  first  beams  of  the  new  day,  ere  yet 
mortals  have  sullied  it  with  sin. 

It  came  to  pass— Ben  Hesed  saw  it  all  once 
more  because  of  the  wonderful  amulet  which  he 
held  in  his  hand — that  one  day  a  stranger  came 
to  the  encampment  alone.  He  was  sick  and  ex- 
hausted because  of  the  hardness  of  his  journey,  and 
he  begged  of  Ben  Hesed  that  he  might  sojourn  for  a 
space  with  his  tribe  till  he  should  recover  himself. 
And  Ben  Hesed  made  him  welcome,  as  was  ever 
his  custom,  and  the  stranger  tarried  many  days ; 
the  women  also  ministered  unto  him,  for  he  was 
both  comely  and  young. 

And  when  he  was  recovered,  he  came  to  Ben 


366  STEPHEN 

Hesed  and  said  to  him,  "  Behold,  I  have  received 
kindness  at  thy  hand,  and  the  springs  of  life  are 
again  strong  within  me.  Now,  I  pray  thee,  give 
thy  servant  further  of  thy  bounty ;  for  there  is  yet 
one  thing  that  I  would  ask  of  thee." 

And  Ben  Hesed  said,  "  Speak,  my  son,  for  my 
hand  is  open  to  satisfy  the  utmost  wish  of  him  that 
is  an  honored  guest  within  my  borders." 

Then  the  young  man  bowed  himself  and  said, 
"  If  I  have  found  favor  in  the  sight  of  my  lord, 
give  to  me  thy  daughter  Zarah  for  my  wife  ;  for  I 
love  her  with  my  soul." 

Ben  Hesed  looked  at  the  young  man  long  and 
earnestly,  and  his  heart  went  out  to  him. 

"Tell  me,"  he  said,  "all  of  thy  past;  for  thou 
hast  asked  of  me  the  most  precious  thing  that  I 
possess,  the  maiden  who  is  called  the  Dawn. 
Speak  freely,  for  as  my  soul  liveth,  if  thou  dost 
keep  back  aught  that  I  should  know,  thou  shalt 
die  accursed  !" 

At  this  the  young  man  groaned  aloud ;  but  he 
told  him  how  that  he  had  disputed  with  his  brother 
over  the  inheritance,  and  had  smitten  him  that  he 
died — for  so  he  believed  at  the  time. 

And,  when  Ben  Hesed  heard  all  he  rose  up,  and 
his  voice  was  cold  and  stern.  "Go,"  he  said, 
"  that  I  see  thy  face  no  more.  Thinkest  thou  that 
I  will  give  my  daughter  to  one  that  is  a  murderer  ? 
Go,  lest  I  fall  upon  thee  in  wrath." 


THE  AMULET.  367 

And  he  went  straightway  without  a  word,  but  he 
found  the  maiden,  Zarah,  beside  the  fountain,  and 
he  told  her  all  that  had  passed.  That  night  when 
all  were  sleeping,  the  two  rose  up  and  fled  away 
from  the  encampment  and  were  seen  no  more. 

When  Ben  Hesed  found  that  they  were  gone,  he 
said  only  one  word :  "  My  daughter  is  dead."  And 
from  that  time  no  one  durst  speak  to  him  of  the 
matter.  But  he  did  not  forget,  though  long  years 
were  passed.  And  now  as  he  held  the  coin  of 
strange  device  once  more  in  his  hand,  he  knew  it 
for  the  token  which  he  had  given  the  maiden, 
Zarah,  so  long  ago.  And  as  he  looked  into  the 
face  of  Anat,  he  saw  that  the  Dawn  was  again 
risen. 

Then  he  called  the  two,  and  he  told  them  all  the 
story,  and  when  he  had  finished,  he  said,  "  Long 
ago  hath  the  bitterness  passed  from  my  soul ;  but 
there  hath  remained  ever  an  aching  wound  which 
the  years  have  not  healed.  God  hath  given  me 
many  wonderful  mercies,  but  none  more  wonderful 
than  this,  that  the  children  of  my  daughter  have 
returned  to  her  father's  house." 

Then  they  fell  on  his  neck  and  kissed  him ;  and 
all  that  were  in  the  encampment  rejoiced,  and  the 
rejoicing  continued  many  days. 

Afterward,  by  the  word  of  messengers  which  Ben 
Hesed  sent  to  Jerusalem,  they  learned  that  the 


368  STEPHEN 

great  persecution  was  at  an  end,  because  that  Annas 
was  now  dead,  and  the  others  of  his  family  were 
too  much  taken  up  with  disputing  over  the  inherit- 
ance of  lands  and  houses,  to  trouble  themselves 
further  about  the  religious  beliefs  of  any  man.  As 
for  Saul  of  Tarsus,  strange  tales  were  told  of  him  ; 
some  said  that  he  was  dead ;  others  that  he  was 
blind ;  while  others  still  declared  that  he  had  been 
rebuked  of  the  Lord  in  a  vision,  and  that  he  now 
believed.  But  this  tale  was  not  credited  of  many. 

"Let  us  return  to  Jerusalem,"  said  Mary  of 
Nazareth,  "  for  I  would  fain  know  whether  my  son 
John  be  safe;  then  there  is  also  the  house  to  be 
looked  to." 

So  they  went  back  to  Jerusalem  for  a  space. 
Ben  Hesed  and  his  grandchildren  ilso. 

But  Anna  and  her  husband  went  not  all  the  way. 
"Jerusalem  is  hateful  to  me,"  said  Caiaphas,  "  and, 
moreover,  we  should  be  in  peril  of  our  lives  at  the 
hand  of  our  kindred.  We  will  go  away  into 
Galilee,  for  I  would  fain  behold  all  the  places 
where  the  Lord  lived  and  taught,  and  where  also 
he  passed  his  childhood." 

So  the  two  parted  from  the  others  after  that 
they  had  passed  the  wilderness,  and  they  traveled 
humbly  as  pilgrims ;  sojourning  long  in  all  the 
places  where  Jesus  had  been  in  his  life-time ;  and 
this  did  they  for  many  years,  till  that  Caiaphas 
was  grown  to  be  an  old  man. 


THE  AMULET.  369 

"lam  not  worthy,"  he  said  humbly,  "to  write 
of  all  that  he  taught  and  suffered,  that  should  be 
writ  by  the  hand  of  one  that  loved  him  while  he 
yet  lived ;  but  I  can  gather  up  the  tales  that  are 
told  of  his  sinless  childhood." 

And  so  as  they  journeyed  he  made  inquiry 
everywhere  concerning  the  child  Jesus ;  inso- 
much that  after  a  time  the  children  would  point 
him  out  and  whisper,  "  Yonder  old  man  is  the 
prophet  of  the  Child  Jesus." 

And  after  many  years  he  made  a  book  of  these 
tales,  and  it  was  called  "The  Gospel  of  the  In- 
fancy." He  took  great  pleasure  and  comfort  in 
the  work,  and  it  occupied  all  the  closing  years  of 
his  life. 

"  One  thing  only  do  I  regret,"  he  said  to  his  wife 
many  times,  "  and  that  is  that  I  did  not  begin  this 
work  while  the  mother  of  our  Lord  yet  lived ;  for 
she  could  have  told  me  whether  it  be  truly  set 
forth ;  but  now  I  shall  never  know." 

"Thou  wilt  know,  beloved,  afterward,"  said 
Anna,  her  eyes  shining  with  a  wise  and  tender 
light.  "  For  it  must  needs  be  that  angels  watched 
with  awe  each  moment  of  that  earth-life ;  be  sure 
that  it  is  all  writ  in  heaven." 

24 


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